Jessica Elizabeth Weinert pleads guilty to fraud and stealing

A young mum has used a fuel card from her former trucking business employer to buy more than $5000 worth of fuel.

Jessica Elizabeth Weinert (right) leaves court with her lawyer Melissa Somerville (left) after pleading guilty to fraud and stealing.

A young mum pleaded guilty to fraud and stealing after illegally using a fuel card to buy more than $5000 of fuel from her previous employer, Road Trains of Australia.

Jessica Elizabeth Weinert, 31, pleaded guilty in the Murgon Magistrates Court on Tuesday to one count of fraud and one count of stealing.

The court heard Weinert was employed by Road Trains of Australia in Mt Isa and worked in an administration position.

Police prosecutor Barry Stevens said Weinert stole a fuel tag from the company before transferring to Toowoomba in 2022.

After leaving the company six months later, in May 2022, a new employee who took over Weinert’s role noticed the missing fuel tag.

Facebook Marketplace sale fail brings trailer thief undone

“It was discovered that some unlawful use of unlawful fuel purchases had occurred,” Sergeant Stevens said.

The tag was eventually cancelled in August 2023 before police began an investigation.

The court heard Weinert allowed another person to also use the tag and they have also been charged.

On November 3, 2023 police conducted a search warrant where Weinert handed over the fuel tag, which was attached to a pair of car keys.

Jessica Elizabeth Weinert (right) leaves court with her lawyer Melissa Somerville (left) after pleading guilty to fraud and stealing.

Police hunt group who bashed ‘elderly’ man in his own home

Sgt Stevens said Weinert initially told police a manager had told her to “keep the tag and use it at her leisure”.

“Obviously that was incorrect,” Sgt Stevens said.

The court heard the fuel card had been used over a period 21 months and $5042.19 had been stolen.

Melissa Somerville from Jeff Horsey Solicitor represented Weinert and said during the time of her offending, Weinert was experiencing mental health issues, “self destructive behaviours” and financial hardship but was “too embarrassed” to ask for help.

Ms Somerville said since the offending Weinert was seeking treatment for mental health issues and was a “contributing member of the community”.

She said her client, a mum of two, was “highly embarrassed” and remorseful and had no criminal history.

The prosecution asked for eight months in jail.

However, Magistrate Andrew Sinclair said a community service order may help Weinert in her rehabilitation.

He ordered her to complete 160 hours of community service to be conducted over one year.

No convictions were recorded.