A THIEF who breached a suspended sentence has avoided jail after she came to the aid of a woman who was stabbed in Ballarat’s CBD last month.
Cara-Leigh Cole, 22, was found to have exceptional circumstances, following what a magistrate described as a “most unusual” situation.
Cole, from Clarkes Hill, appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday, after she earlier pleaded guilty to four charges including two counts of shop theft.
Magistrate Peter Couzens praised Cole foRr the support she provided to the victim of a stabbing on the corner of Lydiard and Sturt streets last month. “It goes to your credit . . . to assist a member of the community that some others would be tempted not to,” Mr Couzens said.
“It’s most unusual to establish exceptional circumstances in this manner, but I’m satisfied.” The court heard Cole was with a man when she went into Coles supermarket in Melbourne Central last January, grabbed a pack of two knives, opened it and put one in her bag.
Cole told police she stole the knife “for protection”.
The thefts breached a three month suspended sentence handed out last September.
Magistrate Couzens sentenced Cole to a six month community corrections order with conviction.
