A convicted shoplifter who stole a pregnancy test from a Kurri Kurri pharmacy could have been jailed yesterday but is instead likely to participate in forum sentencing.
Kristen Gould, of Wood Street, Gillieston Heights, pleaded guilty to shoplifting the $10.99 pregnancy test on June 14.
Court documents said a pharmacy staff member saw Gould walk into the store, remove the test from a shelf and attempt to remove it from its box.
When she failed she put the box into her bag and left the store. Police were called and later discovered Gould had previously been banned from entering the pharmacy.
She told them: “I couldn’t afford it; I didn’t have any money.”
In court yesterday, the magistrate Darryl Pearce told Gould she showed disregard for the court and he was considering a jail term.
“She has a long history of dishonesty and continues to re-offend,” Mr Pearce said.
Gould’s solicitor told the court his client had been assessed as suitable for forum sentencing – a forum between the offender and the victim that aims to create a list of actions to repair harm to the victim and community, and reduce the offender’s likelihood of re-offending. The matter was adjourned to July 17 for forum assessment.
