Jake James Quinn and Shameka Julie Leeding returned to the ‘scene of the crime’ this week

The young couple who gained notoriety when caught having sex in the foyer of the Toowoomba Courthouse returned to court this week on another matter.

A young couple who gained global notoriety after being caught having sex in the foyer of the Toowoomba Courthouse have returned to court on a stealing charge.

Jake James Quinn, 20, and Shameka Julie Leeding, 19, had each been ordered to complete 60 hours of unpaid community service after pleading guilty on July 22 before Toowoomba Magistrates Court to the charge of “indecent act in any place to which the public is permitted access”.

The couple displayed a greater level of decorum and restraint as they waited quietly in the same foyer for more than two hours until their case was mentioned in court on Wednesday.

Shameka Julie Leeding appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on October 5, 2022.

Each pleaded guilty to one charge of stealing arising from the theft of a trolley full of groceries from Woolworths in Kearneys Spring about 2pm, July 1.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Natalie Bugden told the court the pair had left without paying for the estimated $500 worth of groceries by pushing the trolley out of the entrance gate which was opened by another customer walking in.

A police foot patrol identified the couple as they walked through Grand Central Shopping Centre on July 28.

Jake James Quinn fronted Toowoomba Magistrates Court on October 5, 2022.

Duty solicitor Nikola Prince, of Legal Aid Queensland, told the court the couple was unemployed at the time and struggling financially to survive on Jobseeker.

Ms Prince submitted on this occasion the theft had been out of necessity.

However, both now had part-time jobs and were saving up to relocate to Brisbane, she said.

This offence took place prior to the couple being sentenced in the same court on July 22, she said.

Magistrate Louise Shephard ordered the convictions not be recorded and placed each on a six-month good behaviour bond and ordered each pay half restitution of $250.