Georgia Ann Burnett steals from Rockhampton sex shop high on meth

A now-clean long term drug user pregnant with her fourth child, told police after she went on a stealing spree that she needs ‘professional help’.

Georgia Ann Burnett has pleaded guilty in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court to stealing sex items and alcohol.

A kleptomaniac, who told police she “has a problem with stealing and believes she needs to get professional help”, stole items from a sex shop while high on ice.

Georgia Ann Burnett, 31, stole gin, vodka and Jim Beam from three different bottle shops, along with hundreds of dollars of groceries from Coles and IGA on five occasions and several items from Into Love adult shop on Musgrave Street in Rockhampton over a period of two years and two months, the court heard.

Police prosecutor Corey O’Connor told Rockhampton Magistrates Court that Burnett, who fronted court pregnant this week with her fourth child, and a co-accused, selected $363.65 of items in Drake’s IGA in Norman Gardens on August 10, 2023, but only put a loaf of bread up when at the checkout.

He said after a protracted incident with staff at Drakes and during an interview with police, Burnett told police “she has a problem with stealing and believes she needs to get professional help to address the problem”.

Mr O’Connor said Burnett told police she was high on ice during the other stealing incidents and did not recall much.

He said she has 26 prior convictions for stealing on her criminal record and 10 for failing to appear in court.

Defence lawyer Samantha Legrady said her client has three children aged between seven and 11, with a fourth due in February.

She said Burnett started using marijuana when she was 13 years old and methamphetamines when she was about 21 or 22.

Ms Legrady said her client had been diagnosed with kleptomania and had been seeing a psychologist.

She said in 2023, her mother was admitted to permanent mental health care, she lost her grandfather and her son, and she spiralled and went back to using drugs.

Ms Legrady said Burnett was no longer taking drugs and her father had promised he would leave his house to her if she gets her life back on track.

Magistrate Cameron Press said Burnett was “quite brazen” about her offending.

Burnett pleaded guilty to nine counts of stealing and one of failing to appear in court.

She was sentenced to nine months prison with immediate parole release.

Originally published as Georgia Ann Burnett steals from Rockhampton sex shop high on meth