Melita Ebony Moran in court for multiple offences including stealing a car

A young mum who committed a series of traffic offences on drugs and stole from major retailers like Big W and SportsPower, has been sentenced.

A 20-year-old aspiring beauty therapist was convicted of multiple offences in Gympie Magistrate Court on Tuesday, including stealing a car, breaching bail, breaching probation and obstructing police.

Melita Ebony Moran pleaded guilty to 16 charges in total.

The most serious offence was the theft of a car on August 14, 2021.

In addition, she drove without a licence and without care for other drivers on Byron St in Gympie on September 21.

Traces of drugs were also found in her saliva on that date, and it was not the only charge of driving without a licence.

The court heard Moran had stolen clothes from SportsPower in Gympie, goods from Big W and fuel from the Ampol service station at Monkland.

It heard she was abused as a child and encouraged to steal and take drugs by “several older men”.

“She was heavily under the control of various males, one of which was a 45-year-old,” lawyer Mark Oliver said.

Moran wanted to reunite with her family and become a hairdresser or beauty therapist once she was released to provide for her four-year-old daughter, Mr Oliver said.

She was sentenced to 12 months in jail but released immediately on parole having spent 185 days in custody.

Convictions were recorded.