Grandmother pleads guilty to Miami Bakehouse theft after seeing CCTV footage

A GRANDMOTHER of nine told Mandurah Magistrates Court that she did not recall stealing $535 from her employer, Miami Bakehouse.

Deborah Ann Righton pleaded guilty to ten counts of stealing as a servant.

The police prosecutor told the court Righton stole $40, then $50, then $120, then $80 from the Falcon store on September 22.

The next day she stole $35, then $60.

On September 29 she stole $70, then $30, then $5 and then $45.

The thefts were revealed when Miami Bakehouse audited their tills.

When the differences were revealed they checked CCTV, which showed Righton committing the offences.

Righton initially pleaded not guilty to the offences, but decided to change her plea after she watched the CCTV.

Counsel for the accused said she paid the money back to Miami Bakehouse.

She said Righton was a supervisor at the Meville and Mandurah stores, and had no recollection of her actions.

The thefts occurred during the September school holidays and the stores were busy, the lawyer said.

Righton was having to get up at 5am to arrive at her job on time and was responsible for training younger employees.

“She is absolutely ashamed and humiliated,” she said.

“The experience has been traumatic for her. Her family is surprised by this as the behaviour is out of character.”

Magistrate Vivien Edwards warned counsel against making a spent conviction application.

The Magistrate placed Righton on a nine-month community based order.