Warwick, Stanthorpe offenders to go through Southern Downs court for bizarre theft or fraud crimes
From a serial dog food thief to a woman sentence for committing fraud to get a car, these are the offenders who were caught red-handed and ended up in a Warwick court in the last few months.
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From a serial dog food thief to a woman sentence for committing fraud to get a car, these are the offenders who have been caught red-handed and ended up in a Warwick court in the past few months.
Woman used mother’s name to forge car loan
A Warwick woman who used her mother’s identity to forge documents in order to get a car loan was sentenced to probation after facing Warwick Magistrates Court.
Laura Mellissa Monaghan pleaded guilty on November 30, 2022 to one count of fraud following a scam which took place over the course of a year.
It was revealed in court the 27-year-old had falsified identity documents by claiming to be her own mother in order to secure a vehicle loan.
The car was seized by police and later sold by the finance company at a considerable loss, leaving a balance of $17,942 owing.
“She acknowledges her actions were inappropriate and wrong, she was unaware the direct debit didn’t process on the loan,” defence lawyer Bonnie O’Brien said.
“But she hasn’t paid a single cent? Twelve months and she hadn’t done anything?” magistrate Virginia Sturgess replied.
“It certainly seems she never had any intention to pay it back, taking it out in her mother’s name is a good way to avoid consequences.”
Monaghan was sentenced to 18 months probation, with a restitution order made to repay remaining balance of the vehicle, with a conviction recorded.
‘Greedy’: Dog food thief pays the price
Neva-May Joyce Ives pleaded guilty to two charges of stealing after the 35-year-old mother of seven was caught stealing large quantities of food on two separate occasions in November.
On November 2, Ives was caught on camera stealing $158 worth of honey and gift packs from an unattended stall, Warwick Magistrates Court was told.
About a week later on November 10, Ives was caught again on CCTV stealing 27 cans of dog food out of a trolley left outside a store, before loading them into her car and taking off.
“Taking one jar of honey to feed your children is different to taking three gift packs valued at $150, that’s just being greedy, similarly 27 cans of dog food, is greedy,” magistrate Sturgess said.
“You don’t know who you’re stealing from or what sort of financial difficulties they might be in, or how many children they need to feed.”
Ives was sentenced to a nine month probation order and ordered to pay the $158 back to the honey stall owner.
Convictions were recorded.
No convictions recorded
Stress leads woman to steals money from register
A 27-year-old woman, who stole out of the register from her workplace on two separate occasions, pinched $400 because she was “stressed” by her living situation.
Lisa Leanne Stokes pleaded guilty to one count of stealing by clerks and servants, after stealing $400 in two instalments over two days between September 1 and 2 from the service station she worked at.
Defence lawyer Sarah Campbell told the court Stokes was stressed by living situation and the nature of the work and said “the offending is out of character for her”.
It was revealed Stokes had a method of taking from the register and hiding the cash under a cloth. CCTV caught Stokes in the act and she was quickly reported to the police.
“When you’re employed by someone, it’s a breach of trust and can lead to imprisonment, it’s serious,” Ms Sturgess said.
Stokes was sentenced to a restitution order to pay back the $400 to the servo, and received a 12 month probation order.
No convictions were recorded.
Groundskeeper’s ‘sporadic’ near-50 year stealing spree
Peter James Staib pleaded guilty to one charge of stealing after the 68-year-old went on a three day beverage stealing spree, taking a 600ml drink out from Big W each day over the course of November 9-11.
The total cost of the items was $10.95.
Defence lawyer Sarah Campbell described the actions as “out of character”.
Magistrate Virginia Sturgess revealed Staib had a “sporadic offending history over decades” that dated back to 1975.
The charges, sometimes with decades between them, ranged from break and enter offences, stealing and even fraud.
“You simply cannot steal,” Ms Sturgess told him bluntly, “you need to control yourself.”
Staib was ordered to pay a $400 fine and repay the cost of the stolen goods.
No convictions were recorded.
Woman sentenced for receiving more than $20k from sick grandmother
A Warwick woman charged with receiving more than $20,000 stolen from her sick grandmother faced a judge in Warwick District Court on November 21 .
Lara Anne Faith Worth pleaded guilty to receiving tainted property with circumstance of aggravation when an investigation revealed she had received about $22,000 between 2018 -2019.
The 31-year-old mother of one had received the money in instalments, sometimes of $1000 at a time, transferred by her own mother.
Crown prosecutor Catherine Birkett told the court Worth’s grandmother became sick prior to the offending spree and was unable to deal with her own financial needs, which Worth’s mother allegedly took advantage of by siphoning money directly into Worth’s account.
The grandmother, who was 88 and 89 years old at the time of offending, had become unwell and gave the accused and her mother financial management through power of attorney in 2017.
In early 2018, the grandmother had a stroke and began experiencing the onset of dementia, and in turn, the power of attorney came into effect.
Worth’s mother was the only person who had access to the victim’s bank account. “She knew her mother had a very limited income,” Ms Birkett told the court.
Judge Craig Chowdhury told Worth during sentencing that there was “no suggestion you were living a lavish lifestyle that you see in cases like this, the money was used to pay day-to-day expenses”.
Judge Chowdhury noted that “raising children is difficult at the best of times,” and all of the purchases made by Worth were to pay bills, or for her child or other mundane household purchases.
She was sentenced to two years’ probation, with no convictions recorded.
Drugs lead man to steal from ute, caught when trying to flog wares
An opportunistic thief had his brazen matter settled in court, two years after offending.
Jake Eric Charlton pleaded guilty to one charge of stealing relating to an incident in Emerald in 2020.
The court was told how the 22-year-old apprentice concreter, on or about October 14, stole tools valued at $1500 out of the back of a ute.
Charlton came undone after someone saw the stolen goods for sale for $700 on social media, in a quick effort to flip the stolen wares for cash.
Charlton told the magistrate that he had “turned around” his life through giving up using recreational drugs and that at that period of his life he was “very lost” and did “a lot of silly things”.
“Ever since moving down here (to Stanthorpe), I’ve really changed myself around in the last two years by working and staying off the drugs,” Charlton said.
Ms Sturgess said it was “no excuse” that Charlton was under the influence of drugs and alcohol during the offending period. “Misusing drugs and alcohol is no excuse to steal,” she told the man.
Charlton was fined $500 and no conviction was recorded.
Police remove knife from teen’s pocket at busy shopping centre
When a young man fronted court for carrying a knife at a busy shopping centre he asked police to return the ‘sentimental’ five-inch blade.
Queensland Rugby League player charged with rape, sexual assault
A QRL player who returned to the state after a stint in NSW was charged with serious sexual offences less than two months after signing for his hometown club.