Woman cops piglet charge

ONE OF four women charged with stealing piglets from a Pittsworth piggery has had her matters mentioned before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

Brianna Lee Thauer, of the Brisbane suburb of Alexandra Hills, was not in court for the brief mention of the matters but provided a letter to the court in which the 21-year-old said she intended to plead guilty to her charges and asked that her case be transferred to Brisbane Magistrates Court.

Thauer was charged with entering a premises with intent and stealing an animal that is stock.

Police claim a group of women had entered a Pittsworth piggery on November 10 and stole a number of piglets.

Police allege the piglets were taken from their mother shortly after birth and prior to receiving their first milk, which is vital for their survival.

Two of the piglets were later recovered from a Maryborough address.

Inquiries were continuing to locate the remaining piglets.

As part of the investigation, officers from the Major and Organised Crime Squad (Rural) and Firearms and Cannabis Team executed search warrants in Banyo, Margate and Currumbin Waters on November 20.

The four women were charged with similar matters and could also be subject to biosecurity offences.

In her letter to the court, Thauer said she had engaged Anderson Fredericks Turner Lawyers which would represent her at a sentence hearing in Brisbane.

Magistrate Kay Ryan therefore remanded her on bail and adjourned the case to Brisbane Magistrates Court Number One for sentencing on January 14.

A 27-year-old woman from Nudgee is expected to appear in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on her charges later this month while a 29year-old Margate woman was adjourned to the Redcliffe Magistrates Court, and a 21year-old Petrie woman was expected to front Brisbane Magistrates Court this month.