Selena Jean Thomson pleads guilty to 17 offences

A serial offender had 14 jail terms hanging over her head when she broke into a 93-year-old woman’s home in what has been labelled ‘high criminal behaviour’.

A serial criminal had 14 concurrent jail terms hanging over her head when she broke into a 93-year-old woman’s home in a “targeted” move to steal expensive items to help support her drug addiction.

Selena Jean Thomson, 30, tried to argue her life spiralled into drugs when she was 22 after she found the body of a friend who had taken their own life.

But Magistrate Damien Dwyer said her 11-page criminal included drug-related entries “long before” her friend’s suicide.

Thomson, who appeared in Mackay Magistrates Court via videolink, pleaded guilty to 17 charges – the most serious of which was burglary and stealing from a home at Admiral Dr in Dolphin Heads between June 4 and 20, 2022.

Mr Dwyer labelled it “high criminal behaviour” in which she and possibly others “targeted” the home – the garage door was ajar, a rear sliding door open and a window smashed.

Selena Jean Thomson broke into a 93-year-old woman's home and stole items, which were then placed on Facebook marketplace for sale the next day.

The items belonged to a 93-year-old woman, who was not at the property at the time of the burglary, but she told police she had left her property secure.

The court heard a number of items were stolen including a $900 nail gun and other tools worth hundreds of dollars and placed on Facebook Marketplace on June 22 “all to help with your drug addiction”.

Mr Dwyer noted Thomson, a mother of one who had ties to the Whitsundays, was on 14 suspended sentences at the time of her offending.

Legal Aid Queensland defence solicitor Erin Beer said she was instructed the offending had been opportunistic.

The court heard this was her second time in custody – she has spent 61 days on remand – and her first time away from her son, who was her motivation to stay clean.

Ms Beer said her client’s history showed a cycle of drug addiction and property offences to support her habit – she’d had a relapse.

Thomson had been clean while in custody and had a job waiting for her on her release.

The court heard as well as 14 suspended sentences, Thomson had received the benefit of probation three times and immediate parole.

As a result, Mr Dwyer jailed her for two and a half years with parole release on April 24, 2023. Convictions were recorded.