Kallangur resident, Tracy Ann Mathews, faces court for fraud

A Moreton Bay region woman has faced court after tricking a supermarket clerk into giving her hundreds of dollars in cash.

A Moreton Bay region woman has faced court after fraudulently taking off with $500 from a supermarket self serve checkout.

Kallangur resident, Tracy Ann Mathews, pleaded guilty in Pine Rivers Magistrates court today (July 4) to one count of fraud.

Tracy Ann Mathews, 43, pleaded guilty in Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on July 4, 2022.

The court heard the 43-year-old was at a Woolworths in Kallangur on April 11 this year, when she went to use a self serve checkout till that displayed an error code.

She then demanded the clerk give her $500 that she said she had cashed out previously from the checkout till, the court heard.

“She said she did this for an opportunity for free money,” police prosecutor sergeant Shannon Fox said.

“She described this behaviour as stupid.”

Woolworths staff found the checkout till short of $500 and used CCTV footage to identify Mathews.

Mathews lawyer, Brendan Whelan, said his client was remorseful.

“She was struggling financially to make ends meet,” he said.

“She made a stupid decision to take the $500. That did go to food.”

The court heard Mathews had a history of similar offending.

“It is concerning given that it is ongoing,” Magistrate Annette Hennessy said.

She was convicted and received nine months’ probation.

Mathews was also ordered to pay restitution of $500.