Emma Jade Short pleads guilty to theft, driving charges

A mum has admitted in court to a series of crimes she committed on the way to picking her kids up - and now says she wants them back.

A Freeling mother is “working to get her children back”, a court has heard, as she pleaded guilty to theft and driving charges.

Emma Jade Short, 34, on Tuesday faced charges in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court of making off without payment, driving unlicensed and driving a car with the incorrect number plates.

Melanie Moen, for Short, said her client was “working to get her children back” and was in the process of trying to get her licence renewed after losing it because of unpaid fines.

The court heard Short was on the way to pick up her children from their paternal grandmother’s house – something said to be typically reserved for her sister given her licence status – when she stole petrol from a service station at Salisbury.

Short stopped at the service station, filled her car up and then made off with $100.04 worth of fuel.

Emma Jade Short has pleaded guilty in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court. Picture: Brinley Duggan

Emma Jade Short leaving the Elizabeth Magistrates Court. Picture: Brinley Duggan

“On this day she had no alternative and needed to go and collect them, knowing completely that it was the wrong thing to do,” Ms Moen told the court.

“She had no means to pay for petrol at this time, hence why she ran.

“(Her children’s) father was in custody and she was the sole carer of her four children.”

Ms Moen described tragic circumstances that had occurred throughout Short’s life.

“Her father passed away in 2008 … (and) her brother (died by) suicide in 2015,” she said.

The court heard Short had worked at the Freeling Hotel and was a manager at a yoghurt store, but had been a full-time mother since her children were born about 11 years ago.

For the making off without payment, driving unlicensed and driving a car with the incorrect number plates charges, Short was convicted and ordered to pay prosecution and victims of crime fees.

In convicting Short, Magistrate Mark Semmens said she was “doing her best at the moment” and reminded her “petrol is a lot more expensive now” and stealing it made the price go up for others.