Australian Olympic champion convicted of theft
<p>Australian Olympic champion and former diver Chantelle Newbery has been convicted of theft for stealing groceries from Woolworths.</p>
<p>Newbery, who won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, was caught walking out with $383 worth of unpaid groceries in Towoomba, Queensland, last July.</p>
<p>She later told the police that she had no food or money to pay for it, according to the <a href="https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/toowoomba/chantelle-lee-newberys-dive-into-drug-use-ends-in-stealing-groceries-and-a-jail-term/news-story/50c6008c1d67130b170904c028bf9318" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Toowoomba Chronicle</a>.</p>
<p>Newbery, now 45, has also pleaded guilty to driving on a suspended licence, on December 5, but was released on immediate parole after being jailed for eight months.</p>
<p>The reason why she wasn't jailed, according to Magistrate Kay Phillipson, was because at that time she was caring for her 18-month-old niece.</p>
<p>The Magistrate told her, “you really need to turn things around".</p>
<p>Newbery's solicitor Alysha Jacobsen told the court that the former diver had turned to drugs following her divorce from Robert Newbery.</p>
<p>After the divorce, she also faced the death of her new partner and her mother.</p>
<p>In 2014, she told Channel 9's <em>A Current Affair </em>that she resorted to drugs after her mother’s death.</p>
<p>She also said that she had been suffering from chronic depression and had tried to commit suicide multiple times.</p>
<p>“There have been times in the past few weeks especially around the time of the court case I knew I was slipping into a place where I was a little bit worried and I did actually go to a GP and get another referral to get help again,” she said.</p>
<p>In 2021, she was caught with an ice pipe after being stopped for shoplifting from Woolworths and Target, to which she pleaded guilty for stealing and possessing drug utensils.</p>
<p>Newbery was the first Australian Olympic diver to win gold in over 80 years at the 2004 Olympics.</p>
<p>She received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2005.</p>
<p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>
<hr />
<p><strong><em>If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, you can call these support services, 24 hours, 7 days:</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Lifeline: 13 11 14</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 (for people aged 5 to 25)</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978</em></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><em>StandBy - Support After Suicide: 1300 727 24</em></strong></p>
