Coco JB Joyce Bishop-Hewitt pleads guilty to robbery after headbutting shopping centre security guard

A mother-of-three has committed a low act after attacking a security guard at a Sunshine Coast shopping centre.

Coco JB Joyce Bishop-Hewitt faced Maroochydore District Court on Wednesday. Picture: David Clark

A young mother has admitted to headbutting a security guard twice in the head after trying to steal clothes before leaving the scene when her victim suffered a medical episode and needed CPR.

Coco JB Joyce Bishop-Hewitt decided to walk away from the scene when her victim was being attended to by stunned onlookers before she was located by police at a nearby intersection.

Her brutal attack on a woman doing her job as a security officer at Sunshine Plaza was retold in Maroochydore District Court on Wednesday following her guilty plea to robbery with personal violence.

Legal officer Lily Breedon said the 26-year-old was seen leaving Kmart at the Maroochydore shopping centre on May 7, 2023 with a trolley full of clothes without paying.

The court heard security was tasked to speak to Bishop-Hewitt, who continually asked the mother-of-three for a receipt for the $494 worth of items taken and to return to the store. Bishop-Hewitt continued to ignore the woman and said she did have a receipt and claimed the items belonged to her.

Coco J B Joyce Bishop-Hewitt. Picture: Social media

At this moment, the female security officer grabbed the Currimundi woman’s wrist to stop her from leaving which prompted the 26-year-old to headbutt the woman in the face.

Ms Breedon said the shopping centre guard tried to apprehend Bishop-Hewitt again when another headbutt was delivered to her face.

Other security officers arrived and detained Bishop-Hewitt, however during the aftermath outside the shopping centre the female security officer suffered a medical episode which required those around to perform CPR.

Instead of staying at the scene, the 26-year-old fled. She was found by police at an intersection near Sunshine Plaza a short time later.

She pleaded guilty.

There was no victim impact statement, however Ms Breedon said the security guard still had ongoing chest pain following the emergency procedure performed on her.

The legal officer stated there was a lack of remorse shown by Bishop-Hewitt due to her walking off.

After her arrest she spent 215 days in custody on remand before eventually being granted bail on December 7, 2023. She appeared in court in person after spending months in the community on bail.

Defence barrister Mark Dixon said the 26-year-old went through a “prejudicial existence” and battled over time with mental health issues and drug use.

Mr Dixon said the violent attack came at a time where she was homeless and in financial distress where she was also behind on her medication schedule.

The court heard Bishop-Hewitt was medicated once again and hoped to be employed.

Judge Gary Long jailed the Currimundi woman for 15 months, however with time already served, granted her a parole release date as of Wednesday.