Southside hairdresser blames thefts on virus

An unemployed hairdresser has blamed COVID-19 for turning to crime, but a magistrate did not buy her excuse.

Professional woman hairdresser making hairstyle using hair dryer for young female in beauty salon. For: Where, why and when in 2020. Credit: Istock

A southside hairdresser who turned to shoplifting after she lost her job due to COVID-19 has been fined $600.

Sonia Michelle Davidson faced Holland Park Magistrates Court this morning (July 20) on four charges of stealing on March 22.

Davidson, who represented herself, told Magistrate Simon Young she had sole care of two adult, autistic sons and had recently lost her job.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Elen French said an Upper Mt Gravatt Woolworths loss prevention officer spotted Davidson placing items in her bag and leaving the store without attempting to pay.

Sgt French said officers from the shopping centre police beat detained Davidson, searched her bag and found $73.30 in grocery items, which were returned to the store.

The search also uncovered $19.30 in beauty products from another store, $143.90 in beauty products from a Terry White chemist and $60 in clothes from the centre’s Big W store.

All those items were also returned.

“Financial stress and hardship caused me to make some bad decisions,’’ Davidson told the court.

But Mr Young was sceptical of her excuse.

“I would have sympathy if you did not have convictions for similar offences in the last two years,’’ he said.

“These types of crimes are all too prevalent in the community.’’

However, he took into account her early pleas of guilty to all four stealing charges and the fact the items were returned.

Mr Young said personal deterrence was necessary in this case and Davidson was a mature woman who could not claim youthful indiscretion.

He fined Davidson $600 but no conviction was recorded.