Jennifer Perkins: Ipswich mum convicted of 58 offences including stealing $5000 of groceries

An Ipswich mother has faced sentence over a two-year “spree of criminality” that included stealing groceries, possessing drugs, damaging police property, and breaching bail. FULL STORY:

Ipswich mum Jennifer Perkins, 32. Picture: Facebook

An Ipswich mother who stole $5000 worth of groceries and clocked up 58 offences in two years was under the influence of drugs during the crime spree.

Jennifer Perkins, 32, appeared in Ipswich Magistrates Court via video link from a Gold Coast correctional centre on Friday.

In what magistrate Damian Carroll called a “spree of criminality”, the court was told Perkins stole from a number of large department stores and supermarkets in the greater Ipswich area in a period of two years and three months.

The court heard the mother of two would often walk out of stores with “a trolley load” of stolen goods, including from Coles Express at Goodna, and other shops at Redbank Plains, North Ipswich and Bundamba.

In total, 20 stealing offences were recorded between March 2019 and June this year.

Defence solicitor Zynal Khan told the court Perkins, formerly a receptionist at a medical practice, was under the influence of drugs at the times of her offending.

He explained her addiction was the “catalyst” for her behaviour.

Ipswich mum Jennifer Perkins, 32. Picture: Facebook

As well as stealing and attempted stealing, Perkins was charged with possessing dangerous drugs, failing to properly dispose of a needle and syringe, fraud, breaching bail, unlawfully using motor vehicles, and wilfully damaging police property, among other offences.

Mr Carroll said he could not understand why the police repeatedly granted Perkins bail.

“The offending was serious because it was prolonged over two years and three months,” Mr Carroll said.

“It involved multiple instances where you went to a large department store such as Woolworths (and) Kmart … (with the) deliberate intention of stealing a significant amount of goods.”

He said that while the goods Perkins stole were expected to be of the value of $5000, some items were recovered by staff and security when she was apprehended leaving the store.

Mr Carroll described her actions as “serious, deceitful” and “repetitive”, recording convictions for all 58 offences.

Perkins was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, including 13 months for property-related offences and one month each for two breaches of bail.

Her parole release date was set as Friday October 8.