Ashleigh Jade Anderson sentenced for shoplifting in Bundaberg Magistrates Court

A Bundaberg mother repeatedly stole from major chain stores to fund gifts and her drug habit. Now, her ‘persistent pattern’ has been exposed.

A Bundaberg mother was busted for a number of shoplifting offences but it was the theft of a $1499 knife block that ultimately led to her receiving a suspended jail term.

Ashleigh Jade Anderson, 30, pleaded guilty in Bundaberg Magistrates Court to 10 counts of stealing, three counts of stealing after previous conviction and four counts of trespass resulting from offending in premises from which she was banned because of her behaviour.

She also pleaded guilty to one count of contravening a direction or requirement of police after she failed to attend Bundaberg Police Station.

The court heard that both this year and last, Anderson stole from stores including Big W, Kmart, Aldi, Coles, Woolworths and Chemist Warehouse.

On December 13, 2021, she took a baby monitor and cosmetics from Big W before returning that day for another baby monitor and Christmas lights.

Three days later, Anderson stole clothing from Woolworths.

On one occasion on December 17 last year, she took clothing from Big W before returning on the 28th to steal more clothing and electrical items.

On January 4, 2022, Anderson went into Aldi and stole a vacuum cleaner, a doll house and a children’s tent before walking out.

The Bargara Woolworths store was next, when Anderson filled a trolley of goods of an unknown value and walked out without paying.

Bottles of perfume were taken when Anderson entered Chemist Warehouse and placed two of them in her handbag on the 26th of January.

Ashleigh Jade Anderson outside Bundaberg Court House.

On February 14, 2022, she took children’s toys and household items from Kmart.

The court heard she would either fill her trolley, place items in her handbag or take a box in with her that she would add items to.

On other occasions, she would purchase a bin she had filled with items and pay for the item but not its contents.

Anderson stole a $1499 knife block from Robin’s Kitchen on February 15 this year when she walked out of the Hinkler Central store without paying.

It was that offence that resulted in a suspended jail term being attached to Anderson’s sentence.

Already banned from Hinkler Central at the time of stealing the knife block, Anderson returned to the shopping centre the next day where she stole toys and furnishings from Kmart.

That same day she also headed to Big W, where she filled a bin with items and left without paying for the bin’s contents.

Two days after that she returned to Hinkler Central to steal toys and other household items from Coles and on April 16, 2022, she again took toys and furnishings from Kmart.

The court heard Anderson’s hauls of stolen goods were hefty in value, with some collections of items worth up to $500 a time.

Sometimes she was stopped by staff, but other times she would be seen on CCTV after committing the crime.

Police said Anderson had shown a pattern of “persistent dishonesty offending”.

The court heard the defendant had suffered from PTSD, depression, anxiety and drug problems, but had since sought support from Bridges drug and alcohol service.

It was heard that Anderson had formerly worked for the Brothers Sports Club, on a farm and as both a paid staff member and volunteer for the Starlight Foundation.

Magistrate John McInnes noted Anderson’s guilty pleas indicated that she had shown remorse.

Anderson was sentenced to 15 months’ probation for all offences except the knife block offence.

For that offence, she was sentenced to two months’ jail, suspended for nine.

Originally published as Ashleigh Jade Anderson sentenced for shoplifting in Bundaberg Magistrates Court