Nowra woman Natalie Francis faces larceny charge

A Nowra woman has faced court after allegedly stealing hundreds of dollars worth of product from a store while serving a community corrections order for previous drug charges.

Natalie Francis leaving Nowra Local Court. Picture: Tom McGann.

A former meth dealer has allegedly stolen more than $700 worth of groceries from a local supermarket.

The alleged offence took place while Natalie Francis, 41, from Nowra, was serving a community corrections order on four counts of supply a prohibited drug and one count of take part in prohibited drug supply in 2020.

After pleading guilty to the charges on March 16, 2021, Francis was convicted, fined $1000 and sentenced to the CCO lasting 24 months.

Francis attended Nowra Local Court on Tuesday where she pleaded not guilty to a new charge of larceny.

Court documents stated the alleged theft took place on May 14, 2022, at the Bomaderry Woolworths, where Francis allegedly stole $759.25 of “various groceries”.

Natalie Francis appeared in Nowra Local Court. Picture: File.

Magistrate Lisa Viney said the alleged offence occurred during a CCO for previous drug charges.

“Clearly, drugs are a problem for you,” she said.

Representing herself, Francis admitted to the court she was still taking methamphetamine recreationally.

Magistrate Viney informed her the drug was illicit.

“You’re old enough to know that if you keep taking illicit substances, you’re going to keep coming before the court,” she said.

Francis will face a hearing in Nowra Local Court in June.