Maya Murray pleads guilty to break in at Lifepointe Baptist Church, Buderim

A Sunshine Coast bartender has admitted to her “poor choice” of being involved in a daring caper at a local church with two others where they were caught red handed at the scene.

Maya Mary-Anne Murray outside Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday.

A Wurtulla woman has been sentenced for her involvement in a daring heist at a Buderim church for pot plants.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard on Monday the opportunistic break in by the trio which included Maya Mary-Anne Murray at Lifepointe Baptist Church on Wises Rd in the early hours of June 19.

Police prosecutor Tara Miles said Murray arrived with her two co-accused about 4.40am in a vehicle when they drove to the rear of the property.

Senior Constable Miles said the Wurtulla woman, who was in the front passenger seat, approached the shed door and opened it where she took some items and put them in the car.

Maya Mary-Anne Murray. Picture: Facebook

The police prosecutor said the driver and rear passenger of the car also went into the shed and took their own items.

The court heard Murray removed a large pot plant and an artificial plant from the shed and put them in their car.

During the bizarre caper however, the police arrived about 4.50am and found the 21-year-old with her two co-accused with the household items inside the car.

Duty lawyer Michael Robinson said Murray made a bit of a “poor choice” on the night, where he was instructed the group actually went to the church to drop off clothes for charity collection from Murray’s understanding.

He did not state why they went at almost 5am in the morning.

Lifepointe Baptist Church at Buderim. Picture: Contributed

Mr Robinson said Murray conceded the plan changed when they got to the shed, with one of the co-accused telling the 21-year-old “hey I’m going to grab some nice looking artificial plants for my house”. She then decided to join in.

The duty lawyer said the Wurtulla woman normally worked as a bartender and cleaner, and did not have offences of dishonesty on her criminal history. She also made admissions to police.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist reminded Murray there was a maximum jail term of 14 years for the charge of entering a premises and committing an indictable offence, which she pleaded guilty to on Monday.

Mr Stjernqvist called it opportunistic, and fined her $350. No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Maya Murray pleads guilty to break in at Lifepointe Baptist Church, Buderim