Christine Lambert ordered to repay more than $5000 after shoplifting 78 items ... - The Australian

A BRISBANE woman has been ordered to repay more than $5000 and undergo psychological treatment after shoplifting from two department stores.

On Thursday, the Holland Park Magistrates Court heard that Christine Lambert stole 17 dresses, eight pairs of earrings, three pairs of underwear, 11 sets of bed sheets, four sunglasses, a tablet computer, a wireless keyboard and computer cases from June 2012 to July 2013.

Lambert, 42, pleaded guilty to four counts of stealing, one count of possession of dangerous drugs, one of possession of tainted property and one of driving without a licence while on suspension.

Defence lawyer Rebecca Fogerty said her client’s early guilty plea and co-operation with police should be taken into account, and that she was not motivated by greed.

She said her conduct could be explained when viewed in light of her personal circumstances, including the trauma of her fiance’s death earlier this year and that she was caring for her terminally-ill father.

“There’s a complex matrix of circumstances that led to this offending,” Ms Fogerty said.

Ms Fogerty said her client, a former public servant, was unemployed and if a conviction was recorded it would jeopardise her chances of finding work.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Mark Lyell said Lambert was observed on security footage removing items from Myer at Westfield Carindale on July 26.

The court was told that police then went to the woman’s Macgregor home where they found four dresses and lingerie matching the description of items stolen from the store.

A search of the home found thousands of dollars worth of clothing, jewellery and bed linen.

Checks revealed the items had been stolen from department stores at Westfield Carindale and Westfield Garden City at Upper Mt Gravatt in the past year.

Sgt Lyell said Lambert had two previous court appearances for stealing.

Magistrate Colin Strofield did not record a conviction, but ordered Lambert to pay $5488 in restitution.

He said her licence would be disqualified for one month and she would be placed on a probation order for 15 months under the condition she received medical treatment.

Wiping away tears, Lambert said she was “happy to fulfil that obligation”.

The stolen items

1 X Black and white REVIEW dress size 10 $unknown

1 x black and white REVIEW dress size 12 $279.95

1 x pink, black and white REVIEW size 12 $259.95

1 x black and gold FLEURETTEE size 8 $199.00

1 x pink underwear PLESURE STATE $29.95

1 x pink bra PLESURE STATE $39.95

1 x purple underwear PLESURE STATE $29.95

1 x purple bra PLESURE STATE $39.95

1 x black underwear PLESURE STATE $29.95

1 x black bra PLESURE STATE $39.95

1 x black Woolworths environ shopping bag

8 x sets of earrings $unknown

1 x Black leather handbag unknown brand $unknown

1 x maroon VERONIKA MAINE dress

1 x black PIPER dress

1 x cream CUE dress

1 x dark grey SABA dress

1 x black and grey REVIEW dress

1 x black DAVID LAWRENCE dress

1 x black SABA dress

1 x black and white patterned REVIEW dress

1 x black and white patterned CUE IN THE CITY dress

1 x black and white patterned REVIEW dress

1 x grey, black and white VERONIKA MAINE dress

1 x white small bag containing multiple tags removed from clothes

6 x MATILDA AND MIRANDA handkerchiefs 6 x $15.95

1 x SHERIDAN Quit bedcover Queen size $3.99.95

2 x fitted sheet Queen size SHERIDAN

2 x flat sheet Queen size SHERIDAN

2 x quilted pillowcase SHERIDAN

1 X tailored pillowcase SHERIDAN

1 x quilted European

1 x red robe SHERIDAN

1 x European pillowcase SHERIDAN

1 X white cotton storage bag

4 x FIORELLI sunglasses and case

1 x Black VERONIKA MAINE dress

1 x dark grey SABA dress

1 x grey VERONIKA MAINE dress

1 x quilt cover SHERIDAN

2 x flat sheet set SHERIDAN

1 x fitted sheet set SHERIDAN

3 x pair of pillow cases SHERIDAN

1 x pillow case SHERIDAN

1 x gold and black belt

2 x cushions SHERIDAN

1 x robe SHERIDAN

2 x quilted pillow cases

1 x fitted sheet cases SHERIDAN

1 x flat sheet case SHERIDAN

2 x pair of pillow cases SHERIDAN

1 X iPad smart case $59.00

1 x apple wireless keyboard box

1 x apple wireless keyboard

1 x iPad wifi 32GB white serial DMPJTLL9F186

1 X Pink iPad case