Shanice Te Pania Johnson shoplifted from Sunshine Plaza

A 23-year-old expectant mother from Maroochydore with a penchant for expensive clothes used a man in a wheelchair as cover for her shoplifting operation, a court has heard.

A pregnant Maroochydore woman who used a man in a wheelchair to carry out a series of brazen thefts from expensive clothing stores has narrowly avoided giving birth in prison.

Shanice Te Pania Johnson, 23, received a suspended jail sentence after she committed six counts of stealing between 2020—2021.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard Johnson was seen leaving Myer without purchasing items on January 19, 2021 in Sunshine Plaza.

Police prosecutor Michael Quirk told the court security had located her in the centre afterwards where they found several stolen items including clothes, sunglasses, T shirts, and more.

The court was told the 23-year-old was pushing an old man in a wheelchair and had been placing clothes in a handbag under the man’s back.

Mr Quirk said Johnson had stolen almost $1000 worth of items from Myer, David Jones and H&M.

Her thieving escapades continued on March 31, 2021 according to Mr Quirk, who told the court she trespassed at Myer once again and stole $239.93 worth of clothes.

The court heard Johnson also visited City Beach in Buddina on May 12, 2021 and stole $59.95 worth of items.

Johnson’s other stealing charge was for an unrelated theft of alcohol from the Maroochydore BWS on December 19, 2020.

Defence lawyer Rod Morgan said the expectant mother had been on parole for a violent robbery in 2018 for which she served actual jail time.

Magistrate Maxine Baldwin told Johnson she was at significant risk of spending the last few months of her pregnancy behind bars.

Johnson pleaded guilty to six counts of stealing and one of trespass and was sentenced to seven months’ jail, suspended for two years.

She had a previous suspended sentence extended by two months, with no restitution for the stolen items ordered.