Bunnings thief Michelle Ann Costello was addicted to meth
A Capricorn Coast mother of five had a taste of prison after being nabbed for six stealing offences and 18 breaches of bail, including a $5,000 theft at a Bunnings store.
Rockhampton
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A Capricorn Coast mother of five had a taste of prison after being nabbed for six stealing offences and 18 breaches of bail, including a $5,000 theft at a Bunnings store.
Michelle Ann Costello, 49, started her offending career late in life after becoming addicted to methamphetamines eight years ago, her defence lawyer Samantha Legrady told Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Friday.
“She was using quite heavily,” she said.
The cleaner had been “a functioning addict” when her own children carried out an intervention that didn’t go well, Ms Legrady said.
Costello carried out a spate of offences in Yeppoon and Rockhampton between June 21, 2023 and April 29, 2024.
Police prosecutor Corey O’Connor said Costello, a male adult and a female juvenile stole $5767.90 of goods from Bunnings in Yeppoon on December 16, 2023.
He said the juvenile was not charged, but warned, and the adult co-offender was charged but their matters were still before the court.
Costello also stole $330 worth of goods from the Reject shop, two cartons of Coke from Woolworth, two perfumes from Priceline and $508.33 of items from Chemist Warehouse Rockhampton.
Ms Legrady said Costello has been free of drugs since her incarceration.
She said Costello spent 10 days in presentence custody in October and then went into a drug rehabilitation program.
Costello pleaded guilty to six counts of stealing, 18 of breaching her bail conditions and one of trespass.
She was sentenced to six months prison, wholly suspended with an operational period of 18 months.
The 10 days presentence custody was not declared, but taken into consideration.
Costello was also placed on an 18 month probation order and ordered to pay $3392.28 restitution.
Convictions were recorded.
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