Toowoomba, Dalby mum fronts court for multiple steals including car

The former manager of a Toowoomba and Dalby jewellers has fronted court for taking off with someone else’s car while feigning to take it for a test drive. But that isn’t all she stole.

On Thursday, August 10, 2023, Katrina Leigh Tyler pleaded guilty to multiple stealing charges at the Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

A Toowoomba magistrate heard the reason behind a mother’s descent into crime and drug addiction was sparked by the death of her husband.

Toowoomba mother of four Katrina Leigh Tyler spent the night in a watch house after she was arrested for stealing a for sale car during a “test drive” – which she later used in a fuel drive-off.

However she already had a breach of bail and another stealing charge pending on her rap sheet.

At the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Thursday, August 10, the 37-year-old pleaded guilty to stealing a load of groceries from Kearney Springs Woolworth on July 13, stealing the car, and failing to report to police in early August.

On Thursday, August 10, 2023, Katrina Leigh Tyler pleaded guilty to multiple stealing charges at the Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

While acting as duty lawyer Alysha Jacobsen said she was instructed Tyler’s life began to unravel after her husband died in a farm accident in 2016 on the Western Downs – when she was the manager of Wallace Bishop at Dalby.

Ms Jacobsen said Tyler moved to Toowoomba with her then two children and worked at the Wallace Bishop Jeweller at Grand Central Shopping Centre – however she experienced significant domestic violence at the hands of her partners.

The court heard drug related associates of Tyler’s ex-husband had been chasing her for money since she received a payout from his death, and after experiencing two home invasions, she now planned to sell her home and move.

Magistrate Louise Shepard said there were a number of factors contributing to Tyler’s criminal offending which included issues around trauma and drug addiction.

Tyler was placed on a 12 month probation order and to pay back the $275 of goods stolen from Woolworths and $92 from the Warra fuel station.

No conviction was recorded.