Eleisha-Grace St John Hunt denied bail over alleged car theft, drug charges

Already on more than two dozen charges, a Qld mum allegedly tried to outrun her Brisbane problems, but police caught up with her on the Bruce Highway, more than 700km north.

Bruce Highway sign pointing to Rockhampton and Mackay. Photo: Chris Ison / The Morning Bulletin

A recidivist drug offending mum was found by police about 745 kilometres away from where she had allegedly stolen a car.

Eleisha-Grace St John Hunt, 29, faces 14 charges and recently made an application for bail in Rockhampton Magistrates Court.

Police prosecutor Kathryn Walker said it was alleged Ms Hunt’s housemate woke up on July 15 to find his car, keys and her missing from the Brisbane residence.

Officers later intercepted Ms Hunt a short distance from Marlborough, north of Rockhampton, on July 19.

Ms Walker said police searched the vehicle and allegedly found four glass pipes, scales and two small empty clip-seal bags.

She said Ms Hunt entered into a bail agreement on April 1, 2025, for other alleged offences and was accused of failing to report to police on six occasions as part of that bail.

She also said Ms Hunt had an 11-page criminal record, a history of failing to appear in court and breaching court orders and was on bail at the time of this latest alleged offending in Central Queensland for 27 other charges.

The newest charges include one each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, driving while licence suspended by the State Penalty Enforcement Registry, stealing after prior conviction, possessing drug utensils, one breach of bail, and using a restricted computer without consent.

She is also charged with two counts of failing to appear in court and six fraud-type offences.

Defence lawyer Rebecca Winning said the unemployed mother-of-one believed there was an agreement between herself and her housemate where she could take the car.

“She was fleeing DV, she instructed,” Ms Winning told the court, explaining her client was headed to Charters Towers where she hoped DV Connect would help her find a “safe home”.

Ms Winning said Ms Hunt, who had no family support as both parents were deceased, had been sporadically in and out of hospital during the period she was accused of failing to report to police.

She also said Ms Hunt had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and received medication monthly.

Magistrate Peter Kuskie found Ms Hunt to be a risk of reoffending, refused to grant her bail, remanded her in custody and her charges were adjourned until August 21, 2025.