A recovering Dubbo drug addict who stole knives and clothes worth a total of more than $1000 has been sentenced to a 12 month term of imprisonment.
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Shontell Maree Whalan - also known as Tara Peters, Shae Allan and Nicole Wilson - weighed 65 kilograms when police caught her with the stolen items, her legal representative told Dubbo Local Court.
She now weighs 80kgs, has given up ice and is on a methadone program, the court heard.
Whalan pleaded guilty to stealing the items from the Macarthur Square Shopping Centre in Campbelltown on April 5 last year.
According to a police facts document presented to the court, Whalan took 46 items from Best and Less worth $361, $600 worth of knives from House and $307 worth of clothes from Ally.
A member of the public noticed Whalan, 39, in the shopping centre toilet and alerted police.
When police went into the bathroom they caught Whalan sorting through all the stolen items in a cubicle.
"I admit it, I stole it all," she told police.
"I never was going to pay for the clothes."
In court on Wednesday, Whalan's legal representative said his client was a domestic violence survivor who lived with depression and had previously served time in prison.
The court heard Whalan has a relapse prevention plan to help her stay off drugs and has achieved success in completing a drug and alcohol treatment program she referred herself to.
Whalan was supported in court by her mother, who the court was told she cared for.
Magistrate Gary Wilson acknowledged Whalan's progress.
He placed her on an intensive corrections order for 12 months.
The order requires Whalan to serve her term of imprisonment in the community.
She must also abstain from using illicit drugs, be drug tested regularly and engage with the Interrelate relationship service.
