Shontae Rose Johnson in Gladstone court for $25k jewellery theft

A woman who got into an elderly Rockhampton couple’s house and stole $25k worth of antique jewellery before stealing a getaway taxi was being “led astray” at the time, a court has heard.

Shontae Rose Johnson, 20, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on May 31 to a string of charges.

A Central Queensland court has heard how a young woman was involved in crimes which included stealing $25k worth of antique jewellery and a getaway taxi.

Shontae Rose Johnson, 20, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on May 31 to a string of charges - the most serious being enter dwelling and stealing, and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

The court heard Johnson’s offending started on December 31 last year at Rockhampton when she entered an elderly Rockhampton couple’s house after finding a spare key at the property, and stole “a large amount” of jewellery.

The court was told some of the 49 items stolen were from the World War I era and some were “irreplaceable”.

It heard Johnson’s offending at the residence was captured on CCTV security footage.

On the same day, Johnson received a pressure pump which was tainted property.

The following day, Johnson, who had never held a driver’s licence, stole a taxi from a Rockhampton house and drove it north on the Bruce Highway.

She made it as far as Marlborough, about 105km north of Rockhampton, where she had to stop for fuel at a service station and that’s where police apprehended her.

While in police custody, Johnson damaged a passenger window of a police vehicle by kicking it.

Johnson was placed on bail but subsequently breached that seven times, contravened a police requirement and failed to appear in court once.

In relation to the offences before the court on May 31, police prosecutor Kelvin Boyd said Johnson had shown “a contemptuous disregard” for her bail conditions and her offending had occurred while she was on a probation order.

The court heard Johnson’s criminal and traffic histories were each one page long and “limited”, which her solicitor Pierre Lammersdorf said was “perhaps her saving grace”.

Addressing the more serious offences before the court, Mr Lammersdorf said they had occurred because of a combination of Johnson’s substance abuse and her “circle of associates” who had “led her astray”.

Mr Lammersdorf said Johnson had been in a relationship for the past 11 months but it had been troubled and she thought it was “heading towards the end”.

Mr Lammersdorf said both of Johnson’s parents had been drug addicts while she was growing up which left her to be raised by her grandparents.

“She (Johnson) experienced significant overcrowding - her grandparents had 10 other children to look after,” Mr Lammersdorf said.

“And as a result my client left home at the tender age of 14.”

Mr Lammersdorf said it was perhaps not surprising Johnson got “caught up in the wrong crowds” and unfortunately made “poor life choices moving forward”.

He said Johnson started consuming alcohol and using cannabis at 14 after leaving her grandparents’ care.

“Unfortunately it has been a downward spiral ever since,” Mr Lammersdorf said.

The solicitor said Johnson had completed Year 10 at school, done a language skills course at TAFE, and got responsible service of alcohol and responsible gambling (employment) qualifications which had since lapsed and would need to be renewed.

The court heard Johnson had previously worked in the hospitality industry in roles including bar tender and kitchen hand, but was currently on Jobseeker Allowance and looking for work.

Mr Lammersdorf said Johnson wanted to engage in rehab through professional channels and also get a mental health plan.

“She’s (now) back in Gladstone with her grandparents, looking to make a fresh start.”

Mr Lammersdorf conceded Johnson did have a “casual attitude” towards her bail conditions but now understood how seriously court orders needed to be taken.

Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan took into account Johnson’s “limited” criminal history, her early guilty plea, and the fact she had co-operated with the administration of justice.

Ms Buchanan sentenced Johnson to six months’ jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of two years.

Johnson was also placed on probation for two years and disqualified from driving for three months.

A conviction was recorded for the most serious offending.