court
A WOMAN stole more than $150 worth of cosmetics and prescription drugs from a pharmacy, and then called the store and claimed she hadn’t been given her medication, a court has heard.
Kathryn Sharp, 54, appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday where she pleaded guilty to two counts of shop steal.
The court heard the offending also breached a previous community based order.
Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Pepe Brown said Sharp went into Chemist Warehouse in Alfredton last October, filling a prescription with her name on it, and then stuffing $77 worth of lipstick and other cosmetics down her pants.
After walking out without paying for either set of items, Sharp later called the pharmacy saying she hadn’t received her drugs.
But after the store manager reviewed CCTV footage showing Sharp being given the drugs, she was told to come back and pay for the stolen items.
She only paid for the prescription drugs.
The court heard Sharp also attended at Angus and Coote jewellers in Wendouree last November, trying on a $299 locket before asking to look at various other items around the store.
When a staff member later noticed the missing locket, CCTV footage was reviewed showing Sharp slip the item into a bag.
Defence lawyer Kylie Moloney said her client was a diagnosed kleptomaniac.
Magistrate Kay Robertson adjourned sentencing to Friday and ordered Sharp to be assessed for a community corrections order.
“It’s a very serious matter,” Ms Robertson said.