Sonia Christian convicted of shoplifting and damaging communications wiring

Sonia Christian, 50, of Dora Street, was seen by staff putting items into a green 'enviro' bag when she walked around the clothing store at 1.30pm on August 7 last year.

She handed over a clutch bag when she was confronted by a staff member on her way out of the store however, video footage later showed she had also placed other items into the bag and covered them with a pink cardigan.

On June 14 this year Christian was also caught on video damaging telecommunications and internet wiring at a unit block in Orange.

Solicitor Lucien Gration said Christian had become frustrated when she had tried to make a phone call so she could arrange to visit her grandchildren but was unable to make the call.

She then left the unit she was in and found the communications panel that serviced several units and tore the wires of the connection points severely damaging the wiring and cutting phone and internet services to surrounding units.

Police were called and Christian admitted she did it because "I was frustrated because I couldn't make a call, so I went and ripped it all out".

Magistrate David Day said there were limited aggravating circumstances and Christian entered early guilty pleas.

For each charge he gave her a 12-month community corrections order and he ordered her to pay $87.65 in compensation to the clothing store.