The amounts involved in the thefts were "trifling". Muir was "focused on not taking stuff again", and would get professional help with her addiction to stealing.
Lawyer Eymard Bradley said Harris had 10 previous dishonesty-related convictions, but because she was now on the "cusp of prison", that was making her "think more carefully about not offending in this way again".
Harris had health issues, which made her "more vulnerable to the influence of her mother".
Judge Brian Callaghan said it was not often he saw a mother and daughter charged with the same offence.
"When one talks about like mother like daughter, one doesn't expect to be saying it in the context of this offending."
However, the judge said Muir had shown some positive attributes, such as how she had cared for a friend who had lost a close relative in the Pike River Mine disaster. He therefore decided against imposing a custodial sentence.
"While the starting point of prison can clearly be justified for both of you, I don't think that that's the appropriate outcome here. Quite clearly a community-based outcome can be imposed."
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