By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A PAKENHAM mother has wept in court upon pleading guilty to stealing a child’s backpack shortly after trying to claim a ‘refund’ from a South East Water office.
The apparently disoriented and dehydrated accused told staff at the Heatherton office on 28 November 2014 she was there to collect a $216 cheque, a court was told.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Kimberley Hawkins told Dandenong Magistrates’ Court that there was no record any such refund existed.
The woman was offered a drink of water, and told staff she’d misplaced her bag.
She was given a yellow Pokemon-themed backpack that had been found in the car park that day, which she confirmed was hers.
Several days later, a manager reported to police that the backpack, containing Pokemon cards and an i-Pad, was owned by a staff member’s nephew.
The bag and its contents were retrieved by police from the woman’s address.
The accused told police that “they handed me a bag and said is this yours. And I said yes.”
“I’ve never owned a Pokemon bag.”
The woman’s lawyer said the accused had been affected by a combination of prescription medication at the time, and was not aware she was stealing.
“When she became subsequently aware that she was in possession, she did make inquiries to contact the rightful owner … though it’s conceded it wasn’t through the police.”
Despite a criminal history including burglaries, the woman had not offended since 2005, the court heard.
“Despite this history, she says she’d never attempt to take something owned by a child,” the lawyer said.
A tearful accused, who had “limited” income, told Mr Vandersteen she “wasn’t with it that day”.
“I feel so stupid. I took the rap for a lot of people when I was younger.
“I never want my children to find out about these things.”
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said it was clear the woman wasn’t well when she visited the water authority but taking possession of the bag as its ‘owner’ was sufficient grounds for theft.
“You’ve stayed out of trouble for a long time. You’ve reached down very deep.
“I could see you were wincing (during the hearing) and I can tell you were uncomfortable.”
She was convicted and fined $500.
