Shelby Sherie Riddle faces Toowoomba Magistrates Court for enter dwelling and commit indictable offence

A Toowoomba woman who committed a Mount Lofty burglary lapsed into serious drug use from stress after her partner refused to give back their two kids, a court has been told.

A woman who broke into a Mount Lofty home and stole some $4500 of goods has been placed on probation.

Shelby Sherie Riddle appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Thursday where she pleaded guilty to entering a dwelling and committing an indictable offence, stealing, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing utensils or pipes that had been used.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Alister Windsor told the court that between 8.50am and 9.30am on December 8, 2021, Riddle and a co-accused entered a Mount Lofty address using a key.

Once inside, the court was told Riddle and the second person stole a number of items, including an Apple MacBook Pro, Xbox One and polaroid camera, as well as personal items, totalling more than $4500.

The keys to a vehicle were also stolen, and the pair fled via the front door and caught a taxi from the address.

The court was told some months earlier on September 14, Riddle and another person entered a Ruthven Street pharmacy in Kearneys Spring about 1.39pm.

The pair took two bottles of perfume then left without making any payment, with CCTV capturing the incident.

Police caught up to Riddle at 7.40am on January 5 when they executed a search warrant at a Wilsonton address.

During the search 0.1g of methylamphetamine and a water pipe were found.

The court was told that while in custody Riddle admitted to police her involvement in the Mount Lofty burglary.

Riddle’s solicitor Charles Lumsden said his client was a mother of two, and while they were in her care Mr Lumsden said she had been under considerable stress for a period when the children’s father refused to return them to her custody, which had resulted in her past drug use.

While previously failing to comply with past probation requirements, the court was told Riddle would take the opportunity to be supervised in the community by Queensland Corrective Services.

Mr Lumsden submitted the co-offender to the Mount Lofty burglary had yet to be sentenced for her involvement.

Magistrate Graham Lee sentenced Riddle to 12 months probation, with no conviction recorded.