Cassandra Dale Amenelle Hixon stole a security guard’s mobile phone at a Rockhampton nightclub

A Central Queensland woman who works in the mining industry said she was “very embarrassed” about the nightclub offence which saw her face court.

A drunken decision to steal a nightclub security guard’s mobile phone has landed a Central Queensland woman in court.

Cassandra Dale Amenelle Hixon, 37, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on August 24 to one count of stealing.

Police prosecutor Stacey Bain said that on July 24, Hixon was at The Goat nightclub in Rockhampton when she committed the offence.

Ms Bain said about 12.30am, a friend of Hixon’s started a disturbance at the venue and had to be physically removed by security.

Ms Bain said during that eviction, a security guard’s iPhone X fell out of his pocket and onto the floor.

“(Hixon) has seen the mobile phone on the floor, she has reached down and picked up the mobile phone and put it in her purse,” Ms Bain said.

The prosecutor said Hixon did not tell any staff member nor patron that she had picked up the phone.

Hixon’s friend was arrested and she told him that she would meet him at the watchouse for his release, Ms Bain said.

Ms Bain said despite being spoken to by police about the disturbance, Hixon made no mention of the mobile phone.

Hixon left the nightclub and walked to the watch-house.

The security guard raised the issue of his missing phone with police.

“Police viewed the (nightclub’s) CCTV system to corroborate (the security guard’s) version of events,” Ms Bain said.

Police then spoke to Hixon at the watch-house and she told them that she had picked up the phone “thinking it was her friend’s, however she later realised it was not her friend’s phone”.

Ms Bain said Hixon discarded the phone on East Street and during an initial police search it could not be found.

“(Hixon) was subsequently arrested and taken to the watch-house,” Ms Bain said.

The prosecutor said during a second search of East St, police found the phone hidden behind a pillar at a cafe.

The court heard that Hixon had a two-page criminal history with no similar offending on it.

Solicitor Mirren Smith said Hixon was a single mother of three who worked in the mining industry.

“It’s unfortunate she thought she was doing the right thing by her friend, by picking up his phone and taking it to the watch-house,” Ms Smith said.

“But then later found out it wasn’t his phone and made the mistake to put it behind the pillar.

“She did tell the police it was behind the pillar and they did find it in the end, and the phone was returned.”

Ms Smith said Hixon had been drinking on the night of the offence and she was “very remorseful and very embarrassed” about what she had done.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale fined Hixon $400 and she did not record a conviction.