A WOMAN caught with stolen groceries and a knife in a public place has received a suspended jail sentence after appearing before Bathurst Local Court.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Sarah Jane Wallace, aged 28, of McMenamin Place in Kelso, appeared before magistrate Michael Allen.
Police facts tendered to the court told how Wallace stole Nestle coffee, Sunsilk hair products, Moove chocolate milk and various other unknown grocery items on January 11 this year.
Police alleged she entered the IGA store in Rankin Street at 5.08pm, where she put a large number of unknown groceries into a shopping trolley and basket.
The store’s CCTV captured her in aisle eight spraying herself with deodorant, and then putting personal hygiene products in her basket.
She was then observed on CCTV drawing attention to herself by running into a checkout, before walking out of the store with the trolley and basket, making no attempt to pay for the items.
Police were called, and at 5.50pm they located Wallace in Howick Street, where they stopped and spoke to her about the incident. Wallace denied the allegations.
She was then searched. Police found Moove chocolate milk and Sunsilk hair products. They also found an Outdoor Edge folding knife.
Wallace made admissions to the theft of the items and told police the knife was for her protection.
Mr Allen convicted Wallace on both the theft and having custody of a knife in a public place.
For having custody of a knife in a public place, she was sentenced to four months in custody, to be served as a Section 12 suspended sentence. Mr Allen also ordered the knife be forfeited.
On the shoplifting charge she was jailed for four months, which is also to be served as a Section 12 wholly suspended sentence.
