The "long and very strange story" behind WAG Emma Hawkins' stolen wedding dress.

March 19 last year was the wedding of Emma and Tom Hawkins. Emma is a business woman. Tom is a Geelong AFL star.

The outdoor wedding featured coral-coloured bridesmaid dresses; an absolutely beaming Tom Hawkins; and two wedding gowns by Melbourne designer Sonia Cappellazzo.

A week later, the wedding dresses were stolen.

They were in the back of a Emma’s white series 1 BMW, ready to be taken to the dry-cleaners.

In the middle of the night, a week after their wedding, the car and the designer dresses were taken from outside the couple’s home in Newtown, Geelong.

???????????? just finished looking at all of our beautiful wedding photos. Thank you @nikoleramsayweddings for capturing our magical day, you truly have a gift. @tomhawkins_ l???????????? #firstkiss #happiestdayofourlives #wedding

A photo posted by Emma Hawkins (@emmahawkins_) on Apr 17, 2016 at 2:25am PDT

Yesterday, Amanda Bramich pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrate’s Court to the $20,000 theft.

Bramich admitted to stealing the dresses from the stolen car, after it had been abandoned near railway tracks in North Geelong.

It’s not yet clear if she was also involved in the theft of the car.

I have had so many questions about the beautiful bridesmaids dresses. I wanted the girls to feel comfortable and themselves on the day, so I gave them a colour palette and they went off and chose their own dress. These dresses are a mix of @rodeo_show and @zimmermann_ and they all wore matching @wittnershoes shoes???? I might be bias, but I think I had the most beautiful bridesmaids in the world. #wedding #bridesmaids

A photo posted by Emma Hawkins (@emmahawkins_) on May 3, 2016 at 3:39am PDT

The court heard Bramich felt guilty after the fact, and had no idea the dresses belonged to the high-profile couple until the story went public.

The way she was discovered by police is just as mysterious as the crime itself.

This time last night… I got changed to dance the night away & we didn’t leave the dance floor ❤️ thank you for all of your beautiful messages, so lovely of everyone. We still can’t stop smiling ????

A photo posted by Emma Hawkins (@emmahawkins_) on Mar 20, 2016 at 3:57am PDT

Bramich happened upon Tom Hawkins, in what was reportedly a chance encounter, in the car park of alcohol retailer Dan Murphys on May 26. Months after the dresses were taken.

She approached the footballer and said (just like a movie scene) that she “possibly had the dresses”. They exchanged numbers and Bramich asked if there was an award linked to the return of the dresses.

Hawkins said there was no award, and supplied the police with Bramich’s number. They tracked her down at her North Geelong address and the gowns were returned to the couple soon after.

LISTEN: The moment Sarah Harris was papped in her wedding dress. (Post continues…)

“Smiles all around, I have my dresses back!” Emma posted to Instagram. “Long and very strange story, but they are back and I couldn’t be happier (although I’m not sure how happy our dry cleaner will be when he gets them)! Thank you SO MUCH to the Geelong Police and everyone who kept an eye out for them. Even though there are some very low people in our community, the good far out weighs the bad.”

Smiles all around ???? I have my dresses back!!!! ???????? Long and very strange story, but they are back and I couldn’t be happier (although I’m not sure how happy our dry cleaner will be when he gets them ????)! Thank you SO MUCH to the Geelong Police and everyone who kept an eye out for them. Even though there are some very low people in our community, the good far out weighs the bad #happydays –

A photo posted by Emma Hawkins (@emmahawkins_) on Jun 28, 2016 at 7:25pm PDT

Bramich was given a corrections order for 50 hours unpaid work by the court yesterday.

She got off without conviction, because the magistrate took into account her guilty plea.