Kahlee Northcroft denied bail for stealing, driving charges

A mum of two is facing two dozen charges in the Bundaberg Court alone for stealing and driving offences, including the theft of a car which has not been found.

A 35-year-old ex-aged care worker has been denied bail in court on Tuesday due to what Acting Magistrate Peter Cooke called an “unacceptable risk of reoffending”.

Kahlee Northcroft appeared in custody at the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on 24 charges including seven counts of stealing, seven counts of driving without a licence and five breaches of bail conditions.

Police Prosecutor Tina Bland told the court Ms Northcroft has over 30 other outstanding charges in two other courts across Queensland, including Brisbane and Toowoomba.

Ms Northcroft has also charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, with Senior Constable Bland stating the alleged vehicle “still had not been located” by the police.

“She does have some serious offences that are outstanding,” Constable Bland said.

“I do submit to the court the defendant comes before the court with history of a like nature, and CCTV footage … the evidence from the crown is strong in relation to those offences.”

Constable Bland told the court Ms Northcroft “has shown she has a disregard to her bail conditions”.

Ms Northcroft’s solicitor Lavonda Maloy said her client had recently experienced great personal distress which had turned her to crime.

“She made some very poor choices, and was unfortunately involved in drugs very early,” Ms Maloy told the court.

The court heard Ms Northcroft had turned to substance abuse in her youth, resulting in imprisonment in 2015.

This time behind bars had sobered Ms Northcroft and she had not reoffend until 2021, the court was told.

“When she was released from prison she was employed and was able to function effectively in the community and parent her two daughters,” the court heard.

She had turned back to crime after being raped, the court heard.

“Unfortunately she has again turned to drugs as a way of escaping that traumatic incident that she was subjected to, and she has become addicted again,” Ms Maloy said.

She said Ms Northcroft needed bail to seek support for her addiction, and to obtain medical documents supporting her addiction.

Mr Cooke labelled Ms Northcrofts outstanding offences as “quite serious” and she was an “unacceptable risk of reoffending and failing to appear”.

Ms Northcroft was denied bail and is set to reappear in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on September 12, 2022.