Woman caught stealing six ice-creams and a Big M

By Grace Carter

Apr 30, 2024

**In court:** A woman who stole six ice-creams and a Big M milk has been sentenced. Photo by Megan Fisher

A woman has faced court after being caught stealing six ice-creams and a Big M milk from a Shepparton store.

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Rebecca Drew, 38, of Shepparton, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to theft and possessing cannabis and methamphetamines.

Prosecutor Robyn Lindsay said Drew stole six ice-creams and a Big M milk from Shepparton’s King St Takeaway and Milkbar and had a small amount of cannabis and methamphetamines in her handbag on October 17, 2023, at 6.30pm.

Drew’s solicitor Shana McDonald said her client had a “complex background” involving “fairly lengthy drug abuse issues” and she had been the victim of domestic violence, which caused her to spiral out of control.

Ms McDonald said Drew had now gained employment and had stability in her life.

Magistrate Allison Vaughan said that although the thefts wouldn’t seem like much at the time, they all added up to a small business’s income and that Drew’s new employment would help her see how hard people worked to make money in a small business.

“It’s very impacting on a small business when people steal from them,” Ms Vaughan said.

Drew was fined $300.

Ms Vaughan said the offences correlated with Drew’s hardship but warned her that if she was charged with more offences, she could face prison time.