A bayside mother who repeatedly drove off from service stations with hundreds of dollars’ worth of petrol has escaped a jail sentence after pleading guilty to 12 fraud charges.
Alicia Marie Sanchez appeared in Cleveland Magistrates Court before Acting Magistrate Sudha Ganasan, facing offences that stretched over eight months, from August 2024.
The charges involved fuel ranging from $63 to $93 at multiple locations across Logan and Redland, including 7-Eleven stores in Victoria Point, EG Fuels, Viva Energy, and a BP in Logan.
Some of the vehicles she used were rental cars linked to her family.
Several of the offences occurred in the early hours of the morning catching staff off guard. One took place at 2.45am, with a pattern of opportunistic behaviour outside business hours.
CCTV footage captured Sanchez repeatedly filling her car and driving away without paying.
The police prosecutor described her actions as “recidivist behaviour … she hasn’t even attempted to go inside. She’s just jumping in the car and then driven away”.
Sanchez, 29, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of fraud.
Acting Magistrate Ganasan acknowledged that “fraud can attract five years’ imprisonment” but took into account Sanchez’s lack of criminal history, her role as a single mother of two young children, one of whom suffers severe epilepsy, and the single mum’s financial pressures.
The court heard Sanchez, who was a nurse, had been relying on rental cars after her own vehicle was out of action following a traffic accident.
She also faced extra rental costs after a flatmate left without paying bills.
The court was told Sanchez had also repaid all outstanding amounts to the affected businesses prior to Tuesday’s hearing.
Magistrate Ganasan stressed the seriousness of the offences while recognising mitigating factors.
“I take into account that you come before the court with no history … Normally, probation might have been considered, but I’m satisfied that won’t be required.”
Taking Sanchez’s personal circumstances into account, the magistrate imposed a 12-month good behaviour bond with a recognisance of $1800.
No conviction was recorded with Sanchez promising to remain offence-free during the bond period.
Extracted in full from: https://www.couriermail.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-qld/alicia-marie-sanchez-29-pleads-guilty-to-12-counts-of-petrol-station-fraud/news-story/f0a2604f46c871f8651beaac7608133b
