Dayna Smart in Gympie court on 24 charges

A mother of three’s petty crime marathon prompted the local magistrate to tell her the community had had enough of her bad behaviour and it was time to grow up, before he granted her immediate parole.

Dayna Smart appeared in Gympie Court June 17 after stealing twice from Charlie's Hotel in Gympie, along with an exhausting list of other offences.

A mother of three’s petty crime marathon has cost her seven months in jail with immediate parole after she pleaded guilty to a total of 24 crimes, including multiple stealing, break and enter and public nuisance offences.

Dayna Smart appeared in Gympie Magistrates Court via video link from custody on June 17 with fresh charges including stealing alcohol from Charlie’s Hotel in Gympie, twice.

The court was told how the 41-year-old jad racked up a large criminal history of 20 pages.

Magistrate Bevan Hughes told Smart, “basically, the community has had enough”.

Her fresh charges were of stealing alcohol from Charlie’s Hotel on Nash Street in Gympie on April 21 and May 14, and stealing items from a Gympie Coles Express on May 11.

Dayna Smart stole from Charlies Hotel in Gympie twice. Picture: Mattinbgn, Wikimedia Commons

Smart was charged with seven counts of stealing after a previous conviction, and five counts of public nuisance, including one near a pub.

She was also charged with five counts of unlawfully entering a dwelling, endangering a property by fire, multiple bail breaches, wilful damage, obstructing a police officer, possession of dangerous drugs, and failing to appear before court.

“You are now 41, it is time to take responsibility and to step up,” Mr Hughes told Smart, who has lived between Gympie and the Sunshine Coast.

The court heard she had family in Yandina who she was not in contact with, and that she attended Noosa District High School but had no further qualifications or trades.

“You’re at that moment where you need to make a serious decision about to what extent the alcohol and illicit drugs are to be a part of your life,” Mr Hughes said.

“In my analysis, they are causing you immeasurable suffering and they are extending that suffering to other people.”

Smart had been in custody since May 23, 2025.

The court heard she had been homeless for an extended period in her life, and struggled with substance abuse and mental health.

Smart previously appeared via video link from Brisbane Women’s Prison on May 26, when she yelled repeatedly over the top of Mr Hughes.

She was given seven months prison time for breaking-and-entering, and an extra month for failing to appear before court

All her remaining sentences, totalling nearly six years’ prison time, will be served concurrently with her longest sentence of seven months.

Smart was awarded immediate parole, and was seen holding her hands up triumphantly.

Mr Hughes said Smart planned to stay with friends in Yandina upon her release.