Kourtney Anne Hilton jailed after petty crime spree across Mackay

A convicted car thief has been caught in the act while stealing property from people’s backyards, but a search of her body led police to add two more charges to her growing list of offences.

With an ever-growing list of criminal history, Kourtney Anne Hilton’s “ridiculous” disregard for previous sentences was condemned after she stole a car just days after being released from police custody.

The 24 year old had been released on parole just 12 days before committing a string of offences, including breaking into a stranger’s home and stealing a number of items before leaving in the owner’s car.

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan labelled Hilton a “drug addict”, whose methylamphetamine use drove her to “commit a number of offences five days after her release from a suspended sentence and was on parole”.

Ms Hartigan told Mackay Magistrates Court police officers stopped Hilton on October 13, 2021, after she had entered an unknown person’s house on George St, Mackay, and stole two packs of cigarettes from the backyard.

When police searched Hilton, they found a gold-plated knife in her waistband and a used syringe down her underwear.

Just days later, on October 20, 2021, Hilton entered the backyard of a different house, stealing a towel and a shirt from a pool area.

Later on that day, she entered another house in Mount Pleasant, where she stole a handbag and the house’s car.

Hilton was a learner driver at the time.

The latest offending spree came just 12 days after receiving immediate parole for similar offences.

She had spent five days in custody after trespassing, unlawful use of a car and stealing charges between August 6 and October 8, 2021.

Duty lawyer Rosemary Varley said Hilton’s best chances of “moving forward” would be to attend a rehabilitation clinic.

“The best chance of success for her on remaining clean and not committing offences would be to attend a live-in rehabilitation course,” she said.

“She has the support of her parents, and has been associated with the wrong people in Mackay.

“She has found it difficult to cut ties, but she has indicated a relocation to Brisbane would be a fresh start.”

Ms Hartigan said while Hilton was young enough to become a contributing member of society, she also had an extensive criminal history.

“It’s true to say she’s a young person, but for a young person she has amassed a criminal history of nine pages,” she said.

“She started back in 2016 relevantly with drug offences.

“It is my hope that with parole provisions and more time in custody to reflect on her poor decision-making thus far, she will be able to achieve rehabilitation.

“The fact of the matter is she’s a drug addict.”

Hilton faced the Mackay court on a number of similar charges dating back to 2016, including unlawful use of a motor vehicle, trespassing, possession of a knife in a public place, and burglary.

Hilton, who appeared on videolink, was jailed for two years, with 92 days already served in custody and a parole eligibility date set for the same day, January 28.

Ms Hartigan said she would leave the parole decision to the jail’s officials.

“Parole will be best decided by the parole board,” she said.

“Ms Hilton needs personal deterrence.”

Convictions were recorded.