A Sandys mother who admitted stealing more than $8,000 from coin-operated washing machines was given a suspended sentence in Magistrates’ Court.Stephanie Allison Lynam, 30, pleaded guilty in June to the offence, which took place between January 1 and April 25.In court, Crown counsel Robert Welling said that it was the second time Lynam had been caught stealing from her employers, Raphael Limited, but that on the first occasion they chose not to press charges.However, Duty Counsel Leo Mills argued before the court that she was never convicted of the alleged earlier offence, so it should not be considered in sentencing.Addressing the court, Mr Mills stressed that Lynam was the mother of a five-year-old and had only stolen in an effort to make ends meet.Since being caught, he said she has begun to pay back the $8,499.13 she had stolen.Speaking to the court herself, Lynam apologised, saying: “I’d like to say I’m sorry to the court and to my employer. I’m really, really sorry.”Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said that stealing while in a position of trust carried an immediate custodial sentence, unless there were exceptional circumstances.Noting Lynam’s otherwise clean criminal record and that she was working to repay the stolen money, he sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment suspended for two years.He also placed Lynam on two years’ probation.