The women had been found in possession of $500 worth of babies’ clothes, six children’s toys, 11 pairs of sox, 10 tops, nine sets of sleepwear, seven pairs of shorts, a shirt, tracksuit and two sets of woollen shoes.

One of the women who pushed the pram – Natalie Lee Ross, 33 – was in the court to be sentenced.

She was placed on a Section 9 good behaviour bond for a year as an alternative to gaol.

Magistrate Thomas Hodgson took into account that Ross had been in breach of bail when she committed the offences in March, but took no action. He placed her on the good behaviour bond to continue her rehabilitation.

Ross had appeared for sentence after attending the Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment Program, diverting drug offenders into effective treatment, solicitor Peter Ringbauer told the court.

Her good MERIT report was mentioned by Mr Ringbauer in submissions on sentencing, saying she had no prior record for matters of dishonesty and had “tidied up

her life”.

Mr Ringbauer said Ross admitted having a record for violence and drugs, something she’d addressed in getting the favourable report from MERIT. The report indicated Ross was remorseful and rehabilitating from substance abuses.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Brett Donaghy said Ross, who gave a Seymour Street, Bathurst address, had been using drugs when the two shoplifting offences occurred at Stockland between 2pm and 2.30pm on March 14.

She admitted stealing an ornamental statue valued at $8.50 from Something Beautiful Homeware before she and the other woman entered Big W pushing the pram.

Not only did Ross appear for sentence over shoplifting, she’d pleaded guilty to the introduction of syringes to the Bathurst Gaol a month earlier.

Ross had declared the syringes in her bag at the gaol about 10.30am on February 23.

One syringe had contained a liquid which Ross said was water when she was charged over introduction of contraband to the correctional centre.