Repeat St George offender convicted over ‘stupid’ theft

A ST George woman found herself before the court after stealing a skincare product from the local Foodworks.

A St George woman found herself before court after yet another stealing offence. Generic image.

CHRISTINA Margaret Weatherall is a 52-year-old from St George who has a knack for shoplifting, and has found herself before the local Magistrates Court for taking a skincare product.

During a hearing on November 17, police prosecutor senior constable Jodie Tahana told the court Weatherall willingly took a number of items from the St George Foodworks at 4pm in the afternoon.

Weatherall removed a 125ml bottle of Bio-Oil skin care oil, before walking further down the aisle and discarding the box on the shelf.

She then walked through the shop for a further five minutes before heading to the checkout to pay for other items, but not the skincare oil.

“This was captured on CCTV footage and was reported to the police,” senior constable Tahana said.

Weatherall talked to police on July 8, 2020, and told them she didn’t use the oil, according to senior constable Tahana.

Solicitor Michael Corbin entered Weatherall’s plea of guilty, and told the court she is living on a disability support pension and is a stay-at-home mum.

Magistrate Tracy Mossop highlighted Weatherall’s extensive history of stealing offences, with one in 2010, 2015, 2018, and in April 2020.

“According to your previous history, we’ll probably be seeing you again next year on either a shop steal, or a stealing offence,” Magistrate Mossop said.

“The reality is, you just cannot keep committing offences that involve property and dishonesty.

“For the sake of $18.23... the reality is that you do not help yourself to those products for free.

“If you can’t afford them, then you don’t get them.”

Weatherall was slapped with a $250 fine and ordered to pay $18.23 in restitution, and a conviction was recorded.

“And the other thing I’ll say to you is this - you live in a small town community, there’s only a couple of shops to shop in,” Magistrate Mossop said.

“If you want to choose to steal from those shops, you’re going to find yourself banned from those shops.

“That is really, really stupid.”

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