Stolen GoPro, nappies, coffee machine: woman jailed after bayside shoplifting spree

A pregnant Redland woman, who brazenly stole from bayside shopping centres, running off with overflowing shopping trolleys, has been jailed despite a plea for release to have a termination.

Eden Maree Wheatley, 34, appeared in Cleveland Magistrates Court via video link from custody on July 1, where she pleaded guilty to a string of offences related to pushing laden trolleys out of shopping centres without paying. Picture: File Photo

A pregnant Redland mother, who piled items into shopping trolleys and then stole from major bayside retail centres, has been jailed on 27 charges, despite a plea for release from custody to have an abortion.

Eden Maree Wheatley, 34, appeared in Cleveland Magistrates Court via video link from custody on July 1, where she pleaded guilty to a string of offences including stealing, fraud, serious assault of a police officer, unlawful use of a vehicle, receiving tainted property, breaching bail conditions, failing to appear, and contravening a police direction.

Wheatley’s crimes included multiple broad-daylight thefts from major retailers at Capalaba, Alexandra Hills, and Redbank Plains, where she walked into stores with an empty trolley, filled it with goods, and wheeled it straight out the front — sometimes with help from an accomplice who held open the entrance gate so she could exit the wrong way.

The court was told the trolleys were packed “to overflowing” with stolen goods including a NutriBullet, coffee machine, washing powder, clothing, groceries, baby nappies, baby products, bedding, food and drink, a $300 speaker, and a GoPro camera.

In one incident, Wheatley used a stolen bank card to purchase $37.25 worth of food at a Hungry Jack’s drive-through in Redbank Plains, while sitting in the back seat of a car.

In another, she spat on a police officer’s chest, resulting in a charge of serious assault of a police officer.

She also pleaded guilty to receiving tainted property, using a stolen vehicle, and entering a premise with intent to commit an indictable offence.

The seven bail breaches she admitted to included failing to reside at her bail address and failing to report to authorities.

The court heard Wheatley is 14 weeks’ pregnant and she sought release from custody on medical grounds to access a termination.

Magistrate Deborah Vasta said Wheatley’s crimes showed a level of brazenness and repetition that could not be ignored.

“You’ve just walked in, filled a trolley to overflowing and walked out,” Magistrate Vasta said.

“You’ve been a one-person crime wave.

“Your behaviour has been ongoing, blatant, and has wasted police resources.”

Police prosecutors told the court Wheatley was a repeat offender who continued to commit crimes while on bail and there was a “significant risk of reoffending”.

Magistrate Vasta sentenced Wheatley to 12 months in jail for the most serious offences, including the police assault and entering premises.

She was also sentenced to an additional one month in custody for failing to appear, bringing her total jail term to 13 months.

Her parole release date was set at July 27.

She was also placed on three years of probation for other offences, with supervision and counselling by Queensland Corrective Services.

Wheatley had spent 36 days in pre-sentence custody, which was declared time served.

She will remain in custody until her parole release date and will be under supervision until 2028.