Bag thief has seen the light

A DRUG addict who stole a handbag from a woman inside a Geelong church says she has learned from her mistakes and turned to God.

Mishelle Preela — also known as Pamela Jefferies — was high on ice when she walked past St John’s Lutheran Church on Yarra St during December 2018.

The Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard worshippers were attending a Sunday church service when Preela walked inside and snatched a handbag from underneath a woman’s feet.

The victim was seated on a pew at the time of the theft.

A regular attendee at the church noticed Preela enter and sit behind the woman, before the 52-year-old thief left in an agitated state.

The man told police it was the first time he had seen Preela at the church.

Police were called and soon found Preela inside the city’s mall while in possession of a handbag that contained the victim’s mobile phone, makeup bag and debit card.

The purse and phone were returned to the victim, but $150 in cash was not recovered.

Preela, of Geelong, was sentenced to a corrections order on Friday after pleading guilty to theft.

Representing herself, she told the court she had been walking past the church when she noticed the handbag on the ground. “Then it became opportunistic,” Preela said.

She said she had since conquered her addictions to heroin and ice, while also becoming a devoted Christian who realised it was immoral to be targeting worshippers.

“They are vulnerable people, they’re innocent people, but I’m also one of their people now,” Preela said.

The court heard Preela had a lengthy criminal record containing similar dishonesty offences.

Magistrate Franz Holzer described Preela’s criminal past as “appalling” while scolding her for the latest incident.

“It is disgusting behaviour,” he said. “This is an affront to the community.”

Preela was convicted and sentenced to a six-month corrections order, with a condition that she complete 50 hours of unpaid community work. Mr Holzer warned Preela she risks being jailed if she reoffends.