Larne woman stole cash from Air Ambulance charity box from Centra store, court hears
A woman who admitted stealing cash from an Air Ambulance charity box which she swiped from a shop in Larne, has received a suspended prison term.
Stephanie Molly McKee (27), with an address listed as Priory Gardens in Larne, committed the offence whilst a customer at Lusty's Centra at 7.15am on May 16 in 2024.
A prosecutor told Ballymena Magistrates' Court, a member of the public found the empty charity box at nearby Kent Avenue.
The court heard the charity box had a sticker advertising a charity event which was going to take place in the shop.
CCTV showed the defendant taking the charity box. It was estimated there would have been between £30-£40 in the box.
The defendant confirmed to police it was her on CCTV but claimed she couldn't remember the incident.
Meanwhile, on November 8 in 2023 the defendant failed to pay a £71 taxi fare.
She had been in a taxi which had taken her from Hydebank Prison near Belfast to Donaghadee.
She then asked to go to Larne to "attend the wake of a family member," the court heard.
In Larne the defendant left the taxi and said she would get the £71 from somebody else but she did not return.
On December 3 in 2024 the defendant stole a perfume set worth £75 from a pharmacy in Larne.
The court heard the defendant had a record.
A defence barrister said the defendant's dad Noel Campbell had heroin issues and has 360 previous convictions; her brother Gareth "passed away from a heroin overdose"; another brother Dale has "drug misuse" issues, as has her sister Kelly.
The lawyer said the defendant had drug issues of her own "in the past". Representatives from a rehab group watched on from the public gallery after accompanying the defendant to court.
The barrister said the group is willing to give the defendant a "chance".
The lawyer said that would be an opportunity to "turn her life around" as she "could not become a regular court attendee just like her father".
Deputy District Judge Noel Dunlop told the defendant: "Life hasn't been easy for you".
He said the offences were of "some vintage".
He handed down a one-year prison term, suspended for two years.