Schnitzel thief crumbs nose at law

EIGHT stolen chicken schnitzels proved to be the final straw for Magistrate Robbie Davies as he sentenced serial thief Kahlia Maree Jackson to two months in jail.

The 33-year-old mother appeared in Chinchilla Magistrates Court last Thursday where she pleaded guilty to stealing about $80 of meat from Drakes Chinchilla and a $129 hair removal device from Australia Post.

The court heard Jackson was also charged with two counts of contravening a direction by police, in both instances failing to provide identification.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Derek Brady told the court the first stealing incident happened on December 11, 2018, when Jackson took the hair removal device.

The meat was stolen on January 4 when Jackson entered Drakes Chinchilla, picked up the schnitzels and other meat, and went through the self-service checkout without paying, he said.

Jackson later told police she "couldn't remember” stealing the schnitzels.

Magistrate Davies pointed out Jackson's seven-page history consisting mostly of "offences of dishonesty”, as well as jail time.

"Would have thought that would have taught you,” Magistrate Davies said.

He said it was one thing to steal food, another to steal "useless items” such as the hair removal device.

The court heard Jackson was seeing a counsellor to help with serial shoplifting.

In sentencing, Mr Davies said he needed to use the sentence as a deterrent for both Jackson and the community.

"The principle of last resort really doesn't apply to you,” he told Jackson. "You've got to change your ways, you cannot take property from shops.”

Jackson was convicted and sentenced to two months in prison - one for each stealing offence - and is eligible for parole on March 13. There was no further punishment for the two charges of contravening police directions.