Mother of five jailed for 18 months for theft

A 31-year-old woman will spend time in prison after she admitted to stealing $280,000 from a friend.

Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday read a charge to Melinda Beaton which alleged that on September 5 at Independence Boulevard she stole $280,000, property of Kurt Steele.

The mother of five pleaded guilty to the offence.

According to the prosecution, Beaton had