Inability to do probation leaves woman with sizeable monetary penalty

The 28-year-old appeared before Toowoomba Murri Court just one week after giving birth to her daughter.

The magistrate said a probation order would have been the preferable option.

While the magistrate said a probation order would have been preferable, a move to Quilpie with her new baby has left a Toowoomba woman with a sizeable monetary penalty instead.

Stephanie Amber Kay McKellar appeared before Toowoomba Murri Court on Friday, a week after giving birth to a baby daughter.

The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to 28 offences, 23 of which were frauds arising from using a stolen bankcard, racking up a bill of $1457.

Magistrate Kay Ryan noted the fraud offences had been committed with McKellar’s former partner.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Al Windsor described the offending as “unsophisticated”.

McKellar’s solicitor Hamish Chapman told the court his client had done “really well” on the Murri Court program.

While a probation order would be preferable, she was moving to Quilpie with her baby daughter to live with her mother and that would limit probation services, he said.

Ms Ryan instead fined McKellar $1500 and ordered she pay half restitution of $728 to the St George Bank.