A Wagga woman who stole from two people when the opportunity presented itself has been sentenced to time behind bars.
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Belinda Gae Billings, 37, appeared at Wagga Local Court on Monday for sentencing after pleading guilty to two counts of larceny and a charge of break and enter.
On April 21, the Mount Austin woman found a hotel room key on the floor of a pub and used it to steal clothing, a black bag and a power pack, all worth $100.
She was arrested by police and, during an interview, admitted to police where the items were.
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In another incident, Billings stole a phone that someone had dropped before later dumping it in a bathroom to try and avoid being caught.
In court on Monday, her solicitor said while her record did not entitle Billings to any leniency, she had pleaded guilty to the offences at the first available opportunity.
He also told the magistrate she had a "deprived upbringing" and had been introduced to drugs and alcohol from a young age.
The lawyer described the offending as "opportunistic" and towards the "lower end of the scale".
In handing down his sentence, Magistrate Christopher Halburd agreed with the description of "opportunistic".
He noted that Billings was in touch with rehabilitation and medical services to help her address mental health and addiction issues.
Magistrate Halburd said it was "problematic indeed" if people cannot go out and drop their key without their room being broken into.
He sentenced Billings to eights months in jail, with a non-parole period of four months.
The term is backdated to begin on July 26, and she is eligible for parole on November 25.
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