Angela Rolls pleads guilty to stealing from St Vincent de Paul

Standing in front of a magistrate, a woman who stole $1650 worth of jewellery from a Yeppoon charity store said her crime was “disgusting”.

Angela Marie Rolls faced Yeppoon Magistrates Court after she stole jewellery from St Vincent de Paul.

A brazen thief who stole $1650 worth of jewellery from a Yeppoon charity store had a record of dishonesty offending.

Angela Marie Rolls, 45, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on March 30 to stealing, as well as possessing cannabis and a drug utensil.

Police prosecutor Brandon Selic said that about 11.30am on February 23, Rolls attended the St Vincent de Paul store on John Street, Yeppoon.

Mr Selic said Rolls asked staff to open a locked, glass cabinet so she could view some jewellery.

The prosecutor said after Rolls distracted the shop attendant, she took a gold-coloured ring with a certificate of authenticity, and left the store without making any attempt to pay.

The court heard police viewed CCTV footage and four days later they executed a search warrant at Rolls’ Whitman Street residence at Yeppoon.

Mr Selic said during the search, police found the stolen jewellery and they also discovered Rolls in possession of a small amount of cannabis and a bong.

The court heard Rolls had a two-page criminal history which included previous dishonesty offending, and Magistrate Cameron Press told her that she was “moving close to going to jail”.

“The last conviction was August last year for stealing and fraud,” Mr Press said.

“Well you’re going back down that same road, aren’t you?”

A self-represented Rolls said her latest crime of stealing from a charity was “disgusting” and she was “seeking help now”.

Mr Press said stealing the jewellery from St Vincent de Paul was “taking food and assistance away from people who need it”.

“It’s appalling behaviour,” Mr Press said.

The magistrate also said this type of offending often saw people going to jail.

“And indeed, you are probably fortunate on this occasion that the item was recovered,” Mr Press said.

Mr Press placed Rolls on 12 months’ probation and he also ordered she perform 60 hours of unpaid community service.

Convictions were recorded.