Jahkara Hardy: Women busted stealing clothes in wheelchair scheme

An able-bodied woman has been blasted in court after pretending to need a wheelchair while going on stealing spree in a Chinchilla clothing store. Details inside:

An able-bodied mother who pretended to need a wheelchair when she went on a $200 stealing spree in a Chinchilla clothing store has been blasted in court for her “abhorrent” criminal history.

Chinchilla Magistrates Court heard Jahkara Hardy is one of two women who entered K-Hub and stole $212 worth of children’s clothing in the lead up to Christmas last year.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins told the court on October 27 that the 23-year-old was sitting in the wheelchair as her co-accused pushed it into the store and began shoving kids clothes into empty bags on the chair.

The court heard that a few months later the Chinchilla woman also stole perfumes from a pharmacy by shoving them into the back of a pram, as well as taking an iPhone cable from a BP service station.

Sergeant Hutchins said on February 16, Hardy was charged with trespass after being banned from K-Hub the day prior for coming in with another female to steal more bags of clothes.

“They were approached by staff who asked to check their bags and they said no and ran out of the store,” he said.

Jahkara Hardy was sentenced in Chinchilla Magistrates Court 2022. Picture: Facebook

Sergeant Hutchins highlighted that while the theft was at the “lower end”, it’s heightened by the sheer amount of offences.

“She has an abhorrent history that covers everything from unlawful use, fraud, possession and even had a period of imprisonment for failing to appear,” he said.

Defence lawyer Brad Skuse said his client claimed the clothes originally stolen from K-Hub were for her two children, and the other items for personal use.

“She’s back living with her mum and looking for employment and accommodation for her and her kids,” he said.

Magistrate Kerrie O’Callaghan acknowledged the woman’s age and her attempt to “get settled”.

“You don’t want to run the risk of going into custody when you have kids,” she said.

Hardy pleaded guilty to four stealing charges, trespass, driving on a learners licence without supervision and proper display of plates, driving an unregistered vehicle and failing to appear.

She was sentenced to 18 months’ probation.

She was also fined $450 for the driving offence, and is to pay restitution of $106 to K-Hub and $26 to BP.