Mother-of-two, 23, reveals the heartbreaking reason she stole sheets and pillows from Spotlight as she bottle feeds her young baby in court
- The single mother of two stole manchester to sell and pay outstanding bills
- She had just split with her partner and was living with her friend in Gympie
- Shoplifting seemed like the easiest solution at the time, she told the court
- Magistrate Chris Callaghan took pity on her and didn’t record a conviction
A magistrate has taken mercy on a desperate young mother of two who stole sheets and pillows from a local Spotlight store to pay her mounting bills.
First offender Kiera Louise Morris, 23, was given permission to bottlefeed her youngest child in court as her case at Gympie Magistrates Court was heard.
Ms Morrie – who describes herself as a bookworm – pleaded guilty to stealing more than $150-worth of manchester from Spotlight at Kawana Waters.
But magistrate Chris Callaghan let the young mother walk free from court with no conviction recorded on a nine month, $600 good behaviour bond.
First offender Kiera Louise Morris (pictured) pleaded guilty to stealing more than $150-worth of manchester from Spotlight at Kawana Waters
Included in the haul were several sets of sheets, pillows, a quilt and quilt cover, a mattress protector and pillow covers, said police prosecutor Barry Stevens.
The prosecution said Ms Morrie simply walked out the store with the goods while staff were busy with other customers, according to the Gympie Times.
Sergeant Stevens told the court Ms Morrie had sold some of the items to pay off outstanding bills.
‘I was a newly single parent with two kids under two…it seemed like the easiest option at the time,’ she told the court.
The lone parent represented herself in court and said she had been going through a difficult time after a split with her former partner, and was living with a friend.
She was released without being required to pay Spotlight back for the cost of the shoplifted goods.
Magistrate Chris Callaghan let Ms Morrie walk free from court with no conviction recorded on a nine month $600 good behaviour bond – and no need to pay back Spotlight. (Stock image)