Hi everyone,
Last week after paying for all of her other shopping & being stressed about being on time to pick up the kids from their first day of high school, my wife accidentally shoplifted a few cans of spam and 2 sets of cheap headphones (small items that fell to the bottom of trolley). She was detained by the store detectives after she walked out of Woolworths and was taken to a storeroom where the police were called and told she would be charged with shoplifting. After realising what was happening, (English is her second language) she said she’ll pay for the goods she ‘stole’ which she did ($80 in total).
She has just received a phone call from the police telling her as she has no other convictions, her summons will be March 6th so she isn’t left waiting forever. She is 36 years old and has never had a criminal record or even a speeding fine. She is terrified this will affect her registration to university to become a registered nurse.
My question is: Is it worth getting a lawyer for this? We have kept the receipt for her shopping paid for on the day, both the goods she bought and the goods she ‘stole’ and can provide a complete history of paying in full for all shopping she has done over the 8 years she has been in the country. Personally, I feel this is a trifling matter though the courts understandably may not as they don’t know her like I do.
Thanks for taking the time to read, any help would be appreciated.
Last week after paying for all of her other shopping & being stressed about being on time to pick up the kids from their first day of high school, my wife accidentally shoplifted a few cans of spam and 2 sets of cheap headphones (small items that fell to the bottom of trolley). She was detained by the store detectives after she walked out of Woolworths and was taken to a storeroom where the police were called and told she would be charged with shoplifting. After realising what was happening, (English is her second language) she said she’ll pay for the goods she ‘stole’ which she did ($80 in total).
She has just received a phone call from the police telling her as she has no other convictions, her summons will be March 6th so she isn’t left waiting forever. She is 36 years old and has never had a criminal record or even a speeding fine. She is terrified this will affect her registration to university to become a registered nurse.
My question is: Is it worth getting a lawyer for this? We have kept the receipt for her shopping paid for on the day, both the goods she bought and the goods she ‘stole’ and can provide a complete history of paying in full for all shopping she has done over the 8 years she has been in the country. Personally, I feel this is a trifling matter though the courts understandably may not as they don’t know her like I do.
Thanks for taking the time to read, any help would be appreciated.