Selena Jean Thomson charged with fraud, stealing, drug possession

A young mum who relapsed into drug use also fell back into criminality and fraud, stealing from a charity before being caught with stolen credit cards.

A young mum who relapsed into drug use also fell back into criminality; stealing donated clothes out of the St Vincent de Paul charity bins, sneaking items out of Bunnings, and using debit cards not her own.

A young mum stole clothes multiple times from St Vincent de Paul charity donation bins in a series of offences following her relapse into drug use.

Mackay Magistrate Court heard Selene Jean Thomson was initially “opportunistic” when she first ransacked the Cannonvale Vinnies on December 10, 2023, but she returned twice more on December 17 and 23 despite being on parole.

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan said Thomson “targeted” the charity shop before her offending “spiralled” in the New Year when she defrauded Bunnings Airlie Beach by hiding a $500+ power inverter in a bag of mulch to steal it on February 4, 2024.

“During a search on February 16, 2024, you were found to have cards in your possession suspected of being stolen ... they weren’t in your name and you were unable to say how they came into your possession,” Ms Hartigan said.

“You did fall back into drug use after you lost your full time job (and on) March 4 you were found in possession of a small amount of methylamphetamine.”

Police prosecutor Leonie Taufa’ao said Thomson had a lengthy history for both drug and dishonesty offences, including several counts of fraud.

Fisher Dore lawyer Sean Gibbs said his client had moved to Airlie Beach with her five-year-old son for work, but losing her drivers licence in December 2023 led to her losing that job and relapsing into drug use.

Thomson pleaded guilty to three counts of stealing, fraud, possession of suspected stolen property, possession of drug utensils, and meth possession.

The court heard she had been in pre-sentence custody since March 4, having spent about three months in prison.

“This offending is very much affiliated with being a drug user (and) you have a long history with drugs,” Ms Hartigan said.

“Move on, if not for yourself then for your five-year-old son ... be a good role model.”

Thomson was given a head sentence of nine months imprisonment with a full time release date on June 28, after which she was ordered to complete community service and pay $549 restitution to Bunnings.