Pregnant mother stranded in Gympie stole Audi to get home

The 35-year-old was first spotted in the carpark of Gympie’s Verandah Motel, where she appeared to be trying to break into a car, before approaching guests, asking if she could use their hotel room shower.

Ramona Leigh Brennan, 35, was first spotted in the carpark of Gympie's Verandah Motel, where she appeared to be trying to break into a car, before approaching guests, asking if she could use their hotel room shower.

A 35-year-old woman pregnant with her sixth child committed a string of offences in January after she found herself stranded in Gympie and with a flat phone battery on January 9, 2021.

Ramona Leigh Brennan fronted Gympie Magistrates Court on Monday where she pleaded guilty to seven charges, including unlawful use of a motor vehicle, attempting to break into motel rooms and trespassing.

She was also found in possession of 1.46 grams of cannabis and a glass pipe.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said Brennan was first spotted in the carpark of the Verandah Motel on Horseshoe Bend of the morning of January 9, where she appeared to be trying to break into a car before approaching guests, asking if she could use their hotel room shower.

After being rejected, Sgt Hutchins said she broke into a security box where she had seen a guest drop their room key after checking out, giving her access to the room and the shower.

She was arrested by police that morning.

Later that same day, she was in a convenience store on Duke St when she noticed an unattended Audi parked outside with the keys in the ignition and the engine running.

“Police observed CCTV footage which showed the defendant before the court, depicted on CCTV...before she walks into the camera frame, up to the driver’s door of the vehicle, gets in the vehicle and drives away along Duke Street,” he said.

Brennan’s defence lawyer Laura Nightingale said her client found herself stranded and with a dead phone battery the afternoon before she committed the string of offences out of desperation.

Ms Nightingale also said Brennan was taken to the watch-house after she was arrested, where she returned a positive pregnancy test.

She said this sent Brennan into a panic, leading to her stealing the Audi with the intention to drive to Brisbane, but instead leaving it at Kybong.

While in the car, Brennan stole a few coins and obtained a car phone charger, where she managed to call a friend to collect her.

Magistrate Chris Callaghan described Brennan’s acts as a “sad story”.

She was placed on 15 months probation, and her conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Pregnant mother stranded in Gympie stole Audi to get home