Jessica Louise Gibson, 34, denied legal costs for Coffs Harbour kidnap case

A Mid-North Coast judge has refused the awarding of legal costs to a woman acquitted in a high profile kidnapping case, arguing the decision to press charges was reasonable despite a jury’s verdict.

Jessica Louise Gibson has been denied legal costs in Coffs Harbour court this week.

A Mid-North Coast judge has refused the awarding of legal costs to a woman acquitted in a high profile kidnapping case, arguing the decision to press charges was reasonable despite a jury’s verdict.

While two of her co-accused were found guilty, Jessica Louise Gibson, 34, was acquitted over the backyard kidnapping of a male victim on Azalea Ave, Coffs Harbour on December 30 2022, and sought to have her legal costs awarded to her.

The Coffs Harbour District Court heard the man was ambushed, assaulted repeatedly over an hour — including with an angle grinder, forced into a children’s wading pool and forced to sign over a black BMW.

Jessica Gibson and co-accused Dean Hurst were in a relationship at the time of the kidnapping.

Defence solicitor Jacob Tate argued legal proceedings should never have been brought against Gibson and the Crown required more than the victim’s account to bring charges, and questioned the victim’s reliability.

Crown Prosecutor Senior Counsel David Morters put to Magistrate Michael McHugh that he should reject that the victim was unreliable and any question of him being unreliable could be attributed to injuries sustained and having to recount his horrific kidnapping and assault.

Jessica Gibson with her dog “Bonkers”.

“This is him trying to recall perhaps the most traumatic experience in his life where he is ambushed, attacked, told that he’s going to be given a hot shot ... an angle grinder taken to his hand.

“He gave frank evidence that he’d never been more grateful to see police arriving and lifting up the garage door,” Mr Morters said.

The court heard the victim’s evidence wasn’t the only reason that the case was brought against Ms Gibson.

Jessica Gibson was found not guilty of kidnapping in company in Azalea Ave Coffs Harbour in December 30, 2022.

Mr Morters told the court Gibson had “assembled” with the others in a shed on the property prior to the victim attending, she remained there for an hour while the kidnapping and bashing happened, leaving the shed and returning to it.

He told the court Gibson at one stage argued for decreasing the level of violence against the victim.

On Thursday Mr McHugh ultimately determined that it was reasonable to institute proceedings against Gibson and dismissed her application to have costs awarded.

Two men were found guilty of kidnapping the victim on July 26, 2024.

Steven John Adams has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in jail while Dean Hurst faces sentencing on May 8, 2025.

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Originally published as Jessica Louise Gibson, 34, denied legal costs for Coffs Harbour kidnap case