Young mother who stole to make ends meet walks free

The 23-year-old Gympie mother of two walked out of Spotlight with several sets of sheets, pillows, a quilt and quilt cover, a mattress protector and pillow covers.

Kiera Louise Morris, 23, stole several items from Spotlight at Kawana Waters in February to make ends meet after she found herself newly single with two kids under the age of two.

A young mother of two turned to stealing to make ends meet but felt the long arm of the law on Monday after she was busted shoplifting from a Sunshine Coast fabric store.

Kiera Louise Morris, 23, bottle-fed her young child with the permission of Magistrate Chris Callaghan as she sat at the bar table and pleaded guilty to stealing items worth more than $150 from Spotlight at Kawana Waters.

Police prosecutor Barry Stevens told the court Morris attempted to steal several items from the manchester section on February 20, including several sets of sheets, pillows, a quilt and quilt cover, a mattress protector and pillow covers.

He said when she noticed staff members were busy, she left the store without paying.

“She said she stole the items so she could sell them for money,” Sergeant Stevens said.

He said she sold some of the items to make ends meet with outstanding bills.

Morris, who appeared unrepresented, told the court she was going through a difficult period at the time of the offence.

“I was a newly single parent with two kids under two...it seemed like the easiest option at the time,” she said.

She also said she was living with a friend in Gympie, moving in following issues with her ex-partner.

As this was her first offence, Mr Callaghan released Morris into a $600 good behaviour bond for nine months and no conviction was recorded.

There was also no order of restitution.

Originally published as Young mother who stole to make ends meet walks free