Sammi Kate Kendrick sentenced for brazen wheelchair theft at Richmond

A woman who brazenly stole a pensioner’s custom-made electric wheelchair has revealed the reason behind her “mean and ill-thought out plan”. Watch the footage of the theft.

A young mother who brazenly stole a pensioner’s electric wheelchair from his courtyard intended to give it to her paralysed mother, a court has heard.

Sammi Kate Kendrick, 26, was told by a magistrate she showed little regard for the victim in her “mean and ill-thought out” plan but still has time to turn her life around.

A prosecutor told the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday Kendrick – who was in company with an unknown male – stole the wheelchair from the courtyard of a Richmond unit in July, 2021.

The wheelchair, which was custom-made for its owner, was valued at $38,000.

The court heard police obtained CCTV of the theft, which was released to the media.

Sammi Kendrick leaving Adelaide Magistrates Court after an earlier appearance. NCA NewsWire/David Mariuz

Sammi Kendrick was sentenced to a good behaviour bond for the theft. Picture: Facebook

“The vision depicts the defendant driving the mobility wheelchair on the access roads of the Richmond unit,” the prosecutor said.

The wheelchair was found abandoned in Cowandilla on July 31 and it was returned to the owner.

Kendrick handed herself in to police on August 2, 2021 and admitted it was her on the CCTV footage.

Sammi Kendrick told police the $38,000 wheelchair was for her mother. Photo: SA police

The court heard Kendrick told police she bought the wheelchair for $400 on Finder – an online trading site – and was given instructions on where to collect it from.

“The defendant states her mother uses a wheelchair and the chair was purchased for her mother,” the prosecutor said.

The mother-of-three pleaded guilty to being unlawfully on premises and theft.

Peter Hill, for Kendrick, told the court she was taken from her mother’s care at a young age.

“Her mother unfortunately fell ill with meningitis and became paralysed,” he said.

Mr Hill told the court the unknown male played a “significant part” in the offending, however he was not charged.

“His influence certainly resulted in … out of character behaviour for Ms Kendrick,” Mr Hill said.

The court heard Kendrick, who had previously worked as a gardener and labourer, was keen to return to the workforce.

Magistrate Melanie Burton said the victim would have been adversely affected by the theft.

“It was a mean decision, ill-thought out and one that had disregard to the impacts that it would have on someone else that relied upon that item,” she said.

Due to Kendrick’s limited criminal history and remorse, Ms Burton said the offending didn’t warrant a suspended jail term, as pushed for by prosecution.

Instead, she sentenced Kendrick to a $500, two-year good behaviour bond.

“This might be a turning point for you … there are better days ahead if you do the right thing,” Ms Burton said.

Convictions were recorded.