Worker’s betrayal of trust
A FORMER Cairns McDonald’s employee must complete 80 hours of community service after she was busted stealing $600, some of which was meant for charity.
Shannon Leigh Nowlan, 24, (above right) had been working at the Manoora McDonald’s store when she took the money between March 16 and April 10 this year.
The money was taken over six times from a store safe and via fake refund transactions, all captured on CCTV footage.
Yesterday she pleaded guilty in the Cairns Magistrates Court to stealing as a servant.
Defence lawyer Natalie Keys said her client’s offending was unsophisticated and out of character and a sentence allowing Nowlan to remain in the community should be imposed.
Nowlan had gained the trust of her new employer, who wrote a reference for the court. “Ms Nowlan is absolutely devastated that she has let herself down in this way and betrayed the trust of McDonald’s,” Ms Keys said.
She had worked at the Redlynch store for three years and was promoted to shift manager before she was moved to Manoora four months before committing the thefts.
The court was told Nowlan had the $600 to pay back to the store.
Acting Magistrate Scott Luxton said her offending was “doomed to fail” and accepted there was not much pre-planning.
Nowlan must complete the 80 hours community service within 12 months. A conviction was not recorded.