A court heard that a woman who took a baby in Brisbane accused the mother of being a 'bad mom'.

According to a judge, a woman who had stolen an 18-month-old baby had made a callous remark to the child's mother when confronted after a frantic car chase. The incident, which took place on November 5, 2023, in Brisbane, saw 32-year-old Brooke Logan Fitzgerald pleading guilty to one count of child stealing in the Brisbane District Court today.

The 33-year-old mother had driven to the inner suburb of Spring Hill with her baby to run some errands that day. When she arrived at her business, she decided not to wake her child and left the engine running in her car so she could keep an eye on her. However, Fitzgerald took advantage of this and entered the vehicle, driving off with the girl still inside.

After about 20 minutes, the mother was able to use a tracking device and a friend's car to intercept Fitzgerald and retrieve her child. When the police arrived to arrest her, Fitzgerald made a shocking statement, asking, "What sort of mother leaves a child in the car?" She also claimed that she deserved to be a mother and had intended to take the child home to "play mummy and daddy".

These words still haunt the mother to this day, as she mentioned in a victim impact statement read out in court. She revealed that she had almost believed Fitzgerald's cruel words, feeling like she had failed as a mother and did not deserve her child.

While the prosecutor acknowledged that Fitzgerald's actions were not as serious as some other cases involving child stealing, he argued that it still warranted a prison sentence of up to three years. He also pointed out that Fitzgerald was on parole at the time and requested her new sentence to be added on top of her current eight-year term for drug trafficking.

On the other hand, Fitzgerald's defense lawyer argued for a suspended sentence, citing her difficult childhood and undiagnosed schizophrenia as factors that affected her judgment on the day of the incident. He also mentioned that she had written a letter of apology and had been using her time in custody to improve her mental health.

In sentencing, the judge acknowledged the gravity of Fitzgerald's actions and the impact it had on the community, particularly on vulnerable children. However, he also took into consideration her remorse and hope for rehabilitation. As a result, Fitzgerald was sentenced to 18 months in prison, which will be added on to her previous term. She will be eligible to apply for parole immediately, with a decision to be made at a later date.

Fitzgerald's charge related to stealing the vehicle was also due to be dealt with in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today. For anyone struggling with mental health issues, please reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

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