Skye Louise McLaughlin in Caboolture court charged with stealing

A Moreton Bay mother-of-two, with a long history of property and dishonesty offences, has narrowly avoided jail time after stealing from Priceline.

Skye Louise McLaughlin leaving the Caboolture Magistrates Court on April 21.

A magistrate in a court north of Brisbane has told a Caboolture mother-of-two she was lucky not to be taken to jail, after stealing cosmetics only one month into an Intensive Corrections Order.

Skye Louise McLaughlin, 35, faced the Caboolture Magistrates Court on April 21, charged with stealing.

The court heard McLaughlin stole about $105 worth of cosmetics from Priceline Caboolture on October 12, a month after being placed on an Intensive Corrections Order (ICO) for like offending.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Catherine Dryburgh said McLaughlin appeared before the court with 17 like and four related, property and dishonesty offences.

“Her history is similar to what many the court sees too often, one of property offending interspersed with drug offending and the entries repeating themselves over and over,” Sgt Dryburgh said.

“What the defendant is doing to address these offending factors is unknown.

“I note that the matter before the court today, the items stolen were cosmetics, hardly ones to be considered essentials of life.”

Skye Louise McLaughlin leaving the Caboolture Magistrates Court on April 21.

McLaughlin’s lawyer Kristie Horne said McLaughlin, to her credit, went back to Priceline on November 23 and paid for the cosmetics she stole.

“I note this was a stupid lapse in judgment but she hadn’t really been given the opportunity one month in to gain any benefit from the counselling that was to be undertaken during the ICO,” Ms Horne said.

Magistrate James Blanch shutdown Ms Horne’s submission that only being one month into the ICO program and support, could excuse McLaughlin’s offending.

“She’s not gonna open her eyes and stop committing offences when it’s only one month,” Mr Blanch said.

“She’s just stupid.

“She’s breached probation three times, breached community service, she doesn‘t give a damn about court orders.

“She’s seen the light has she?

“It’s nothing more than a total disregard for court orders.”

Sgt Dryburgh told the court McLaughlin has been given numerous opportunities from the court to address any issues causing her to offend but it appeared to have had little impact.

Ms Horne said McLaughlin has a nine-year-old daughter and 17-year-old son, who has recently moved back home.

During sentencing, Mr Blanch said McLaughlin had a criminal terrible history.

“Sixteen at least previous stealing offences, other offences of dishonesty,” Mr Blanch said.

“Failed to appear, breach of bail, breach of probation, drug matters, community service.

“The only saving grace why you’re not spending two months in prison for this is you paid it back.”

McLaughlin, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to six months imprisonment with immediate parole eligibility.