Woman, 32, admits stealing a BABY after her mum left the girl in her car with the engine running while she went to work

A woman who stole an 18-month-old baby told the girl’s mother she had no right to children when confronted after a frantic chase, a judge has heard.

Brooke Logan Fitzgerald, 32, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court on Thursday to one count of child theft.

Judge John Coker heard that a 33-year-old woman drove to Brisbane’s inner-city Spring Hill neighbourhood with her baby just after midday on November 5, 2023, to do some shopping.

The woman decided not to wake her baby when she arrived at work and left the engine of her car running so she could keep an eye on her baby.

Fitzgerald later got into the car and drove away, with the girl still inside.

The mother was able to intercept Fitzgerald within about 20 minutes using a tracking device and a friend’s car.

“What kind of mother leaves her child in the car?” Fitzgerald told police when they arrived to arrest her.

Fitzgerald also told police that she deserved to be a mother and that she planned to take the child home to “play mommy and daddy.”

Judge Coker told Fitzgerald that her comments that day still haunted the mother.

“I almost believed you when you said I was a bad mother, that I had abandoned my daughter and didn’t deserve her,” the mother said in a victim statement.

Crown prosecutor Joshua Francis said Fitzgerald’s offence was not as serious as some other child theft cases, but there were still worrying features that warranted a three-year prison sentence.

“It was certainly the suspect’s intention to take the child with her for an extended period of time, but she was interrupted and prevented from doing so by the mother’s rapid actions,” he said.

Mr Francis said Fitzgerald was on parole at the time of the offence and called for her new sentence to be made cumulative with her current eight-year sentence for drug trafficking.

Defense attorney James Grehan asked for a suspended sentence because Fitzgerald had been violent in her youth and was not seeking appropriate treatment for her schizophrenia at the time.

“She was experiencing symptoms on the day of her offence which affected her judgement,” he said.

Mr Grehan said Fitzgerald had written a letter of apology and had used her time in prison to improve her mental health.

Judge Coker said Fitzgerald’s offending was not an everyday occurrence but clearly gave rise to significant concern.

“It strikes at the heart of the community, our society in general. It’s about the interests of the vulnerable in our community – children – and those who care for the vulnerable,” he said.

The mother was able to intercept Fitzgerald within about 20 minutes using a tracking device and a friend’s car

Judge Coker said he recognized that Fitzgerald was remorseful and hoped a long period of supervision would help her break her cycle of drug addiction and incarceration.

Fitzgerald was sentenced to 18 months in prison, credited to her previous sentence.

She can immediately apply for early release. Any decision on her release will follow later.

Fitzgerald’s charge of stealing the vehicle was due to be heard in the Brisbane District Court on Thursday.

Lifeline 13 11 14

beyondblue 1300 22 4636