STEALING from her convenience store boss cost a Toowoomba mother her job, a restitution bill and a community service debt.
Kylie Lyn Leggatt, 42, yesterday pleaded guilty to stealing $1984.46 from Kelly's Spar Express Uni Plaza while she was employed as a shop assistant.
Leggatt started work at the West St store in April 2012.
Her stealing as servant charge related to a six-week period in February and March last year.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Tim Hutton said the store's owner became suspicious of missing money early in 2013.
Snr Const. Hutton said Leggatt's method was to hit the void button after electronic transactions had been approved before taking money from the cash register.
He said police made arrangements to interview Leggatt in October last year when she denied stealing from the business.
Defence solicitor Nathan Bouchier tendered character references to the court on behalf of his client.
"The offence is out of character for my client," Mr Bouchier said.
Mr Bouchier said his client had encountered difficulty finding work since her employment at the convenience store was ended in April last year.
He said his client could pay restitution of about $50 a fortnight.
"It is obviously a serious breach of trust, an offence of this nature."
Magistrate Damian Carroll described the theft as a deliberate and intentional act, highlighting the effect it would have on a small business.
He also accepted the offence was out of character.
Leggatt accepted an order to perform 120 hours of community service and was ordered to pay restitution to the store's owner for the money stolen.
No conviction was recorded.
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