’Crime of need and not greed’

AN INTERNATIONAL student stole a friend’s credit card to pay for her trips with Uber and buy meals through Uber Eats because she had problems with her student loan.

Abby Gallant racked up a bill of more than $5000 between May and October this year, stealing the credit card from one of her only friends based on the Gold Coast.

The Southport Magistrates Court heard Gallant, a Canadian studying law at Bond University, took the credit card and linked it to her Uber and Uber Eats accounts.

She also took cash from a number of ATMs. After using the card, Gallant would return it to her friend’s wallet.

In total Gallant spent $5327.50 before her friend realised and went to police.

Defence lawyer Dan Rogers said Gallant, 25, took the money because she had trouble with her student credit being transferred from Canada.

“It was a crime of need and not greed,” he said.

Mr Rogers said Gallant had paid all the money back to her friend and was remorseful.

He urged no conviction be recorded as Gallant is studying law. It would also affect her student visa.

Magistrate Kerrie O’Callaghan fined Gallant $3500. No conviction was recorded.