Gladstone court: Shontae Rose Johnson caught stealing food from the Good Shepherd Church Mt Isa

Intoxication and hunger led one young Gladstone woman to be caught on camera while she committed an offence. Find out what happened in court.

A Central Queensland woman has faced court after she broke into the Good Shepherd Church in The Gap, Mt Isa to steal food.

Shontae Rose Johnson, 19, pleaded guilty on August 17 in the Gladstone Magistrates Court to one count each of entering a premises and committing an indictable offence by break and wilful damage.

Prosecutor Tania Griffiths told the court the break-in at the The Gap happened on May 10, 2022.

Mrs Griffiths said Mt Isa police were quick to obtain CCTV evidence on the night of the offence and soon located Johnson, who matched the appearance of the offender witnessed through the footage, walking just a few blocks away.

Shontae Rose Johnson. Picture: Supplied.

“The defendant used an unknown object to smash a glass door of the premises and gained entry into the kitchen,” Ms Griffiths said.

“She repeatedly smashed her body into the door.

“The defendant was seen returning back for a second trip because she couldn’t retrieve all of the food items at once”.

In regards to the wilful damage offence, the court heard Johnson smashed a family member’s new Samsung phone on October 17, 2021.

The prosecution submitted Johnson be issued an appropriate amount of restitution to compensate for the damage inflicted upon the claimant’s phone.

Defence lawyer Bianca Wieland said Johnson had lost her job around the time of the offence and was attempting to leave an abusive relationship.

“My client admits that she was intoxicated and hungry,” Wieland said.

“She is remorseful for her actions.

“My client instructs that the complainant of the mobile phone is her cousin and they had an argument.”

Magistrate John Milburn sentenced Johnson to nine months probation and ordered she pay $1598 in compensation to cover the cost of the phone.

No conviction was recorded.