Samantha Michelle Gardner pleads guilty in Toowoomba Magistrates Court to stealing

A Toowoomba teenager walked out of a Grand Central store without paying for some $600 of clothing, but didn’t get far before police caught up to her.

A TEENAGER who was caught on CCTV stealing clothes and jewellery from multiple stores has been handed a probation order, but been spared a conviction.

Samantha Michelle Gardner, 18, appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday where she pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing and three counts of failing to appear in accordance with an undertaking.

The court was told on October 1, 2021, CCTV cameras captured Gardner and another person entering Rebel sports store in Grand Central where they placed a number of items into a trolley before they left without paying.

About 40 minutes later police found the pair on Ruthven Street where they attempted to flee, ditching items of clothing in the process.

Police prosecutor Rohan Brewster-Webb told the court a total of 13 items of clothing, including women’s sports clothing and Nike hoodies, had been found with tags still attached, with 13 items found valued at about $659.

Items of jewellery still in the packaging, which CCTV found was stolen from Kmart, was also found among the clothing valued at $46.

The court was told Gardner then failed to appear in court as required.

Gardner’s solicitor Alysha Jacobsen said her client was sick with gastroenteritis when she was due to appear in court for her last appearance, and had sent a medical certificate to the court after it had been mentioned and a warrant issued.

Ms Jacobsen said her client had spent two nights in the watch house, and an early guilty plea was an indication of her remorse.

Acting magistrate Roger Stark sentenced Gardner to six months probation, with no conviction recorded.