A pregnant woman jailed for six months for shoplifting told Maitland Local Court she believed she had been drugged before the theft.
Rebecca Maher, of Pennington Street, Raymond Terrace pleaded guilty to stealing $49 in goods from a Woodberry newsagency, but claimed drugs had made her commit the offence.
“I was having a cuppa with someone that morning and I believe he put something in my drink,” Maher told the court.
The 32-year-old had a 21-page criminal record and served jail time for theft as recently as 2006.
Maher represented herself in court and told the magistrate Darryl Pearce she had been out of trouble for five years, but she had been placed on a good behaviour bond for theft in 2009.
“I’ve cleaned my life up dramatically,” Maher said. “I’ve changed my life.”
Mr Pearce replied: “Well you haven’t because you stole yesterday.”
The court heard the mother of one was caught walking up and down the aisles at the newsagency and placing goods down her pants at 2pm on Monday, June 25.
Police were called and searched Maher, who had two magazines, hairspray, headphones, deodorant, hair elastics and a packet of bobby pins down her pants.
Before she was sentenced, Maher said: “I never want to go back to jail again.”
“Well that’s where you’re going,” Mr Pearce replied.
Maher was jailed for six months. She will be eligible for release on December 25.