Gail Mary Catherine Mole pleads guilty to stealing in Bundaberg Magistrates Court

A court has heard how a 58-year-old charity worker had a flawless history before she started stealing from the op shop where she worked.

A court has heard how a charity worker told police she was allowed to give away items for free and stash money to the side instead of the till.

Gail Mary Catherine Mole, 58, appeared in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday where she pleaded guilty to six counts of stealing by clerks and servants.

The court heard that on Australia Day, 2022, Mole took clothes and toys from the Second 2 None op shop, run by the Angels Community Group.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Grant Klaassen said Mole’s offending started on January 26, when her daughter and family attended and selected clothing before Mole allowed them to leave without paying.

Sergeant Klaassen said Mole’s reasoning was that she had the authority to give away items for free.

On January 31, a shopper bought $20 worth of items and when Mole received the $20, she put the cash in a drawer before placing it in her handbag at the end of her shift.

Gail Mary Catherine Mole pleaded guilty to six counts of stealing as a clerk and servant.

She again told police she had the authority to “not ring up sales” and was allowed to place money in a “stash”.

Then on February 1, a friend of Mole’s attended the op shop and took a radio and other items which he placed in his car without paying. On the same day, two patrons each spent $5 and $10 respectively, which Mole also put away in a drawer and later took.

The court was told her friend returned to the store and placed more items in his car without paying.

A day later, a customer bought $20 worth of goods which Mole pocketed at the end of her shift.

Sergeant Klaassen said while the offending was serious given she was in a position of trust, Mole had no previous criminal history.

The defendant’s lawyer, Matt Messenger, told the court his client had an otherwise unblemished record, and that she had been “publicly shamed” by attention in the media in the wake of her offending.

Mr Messenger said Mole suffered from depression and claimed to have been “harassed and bullied” in her workplace prior to her offending.

In sentencing, Magistrate John McInnes chose not to record a conviction because of the public knowledge of the defendant’s actions.

“You have suffered extra-curial punishment, in my opinion, as a result of adverse publicity,” he said.

The Second 2 None store where Mole had been employed.

“Now it's important not to give too much weight to that, because obviously people who commit offences will often find there’s some publicity which is embarrassing or which results in members of the community being prejudiced against them.

“But whilst I'm not going to reduce the penalty just because of adverse publicity, it is particularly relevant as to whether or not I need to record a conviction.”

Mr McInnes noted Mole was suffering from depression at the time of the offending.

“I have seen that quite a lot in my 37 or so years working in law,” he said.

“Middle aged women with no history of offending committing stealing and shoplifting and fraud type offences.”

Mr McInnes said given Mole had sought help for her mental health, and was on medication for depression, the risk of her committing similar impulsive behaviours was unlikely.

For the first five charges, Mole was fined $700, with $35 compensation to be paid to the Angels Community Group, referred to SPER.

For the sixth charge, where she pocketed $20, Mole was handed a $200 recognisance on the condition she be of good behaviour for 18 months. She was ordered to pay an additional $20 to Angels Community Group, referred to SPER.