Laura Adele Hinks to avoid prison after kidnapping daughter leading to 13 day missing persons search

A Darwin mum who told a court she was taken in by a group of ‘conspiracy theorists’ will avoid a stint in a cell after kidnapping her daughter for 13 days.

A Darwin mother who a court heard was seduced by ‘conspiracy theorists’ to kidnap her own daughter will avoid any time in prison.

Laura Adele Hinks appeared in the dock of the Supreme Court on Friday over the kidnapping of her five-year-old daughter Grace and attempted abduction of her 11-year-old son in 2022.

In November 2024 a jury found Hinks guilty of the “violent and traumatic” abduction, which sparked a 13-day nationwide missing persons search for her and Grace in August of 2022.

Over a four day trial the jury heard that the 34-year-old mum had concerns for her children’s welfare while in the care of their father.

Despite a NT Police investigation completely clearing him of any wrongdoing, the court heard Hinks convinced herself that something was “desperately wrong” and repeatedly contacted cops over eight months.

Prosecutor Ian Read said due to her own childhood trauma, she was “hypervigilant” to the point of obsession, ignoring the “voices of reasons” of her friends and investigating authorities.

Laura Adele Hinks leaving the Supreme Court on Friday ahead of her sentencing for the kidnapping of her five-year-old daughter Grace and attempted abduction of her 11-year-old son in August 2022.

The court heard it was then that Hinks came into contact with her co-accused Juliet Oldroyd — a 50-year-old sovereign citizen — who promised to be her “advocate”.

“She and conspiratorial friends simply took the law into their own hands,” Mr Read said.

Following a supervised visit at the Berrimah CatholicCare centre, Ms Hinks pulled her daughter from her father’s arms into a car.

It is alleged Ms Oldroyd was also involved in the tussle over the two children, with her trial expected to run this year.

Grace was initially taken to a Nakara home, before she was driven to a remote cattle station in the Douglas Daly region, before the little girl was eventually handed back to police.

Juliet Marie Oldroyd, 50, was also charged with abducting five-year-old Grace Hughes from Darwin.

The jury found it was not “reasonable” or “defensive conduct” for Hinks to snatch her daughter or attempt to kidnap her son.

Three months after her Supreme Court trial, Ms Hinks was given assurances that she would not return to a jail cell over the kidnapping.

Despite the kidnapping charge carrying a potential seven year jail term, on Friday prosecutor Ian Read said he was not seeking a prison sentence for the Darwin mother.

Mr Read said Ms Hinks had spent just four days in a cell over the charges, but any further time in prison would have an “adverse impact” on her rehabilitation.

Chief Justice Michael Grant said the sentence would likely comprise a community corrections order or a suspended sentence.

Darwin mother Laura Hinks leaving the Supreme Court in Darwin after being found guilty of the of kidnapping her five-year-old daughter Grace and the attempted abduction of her 11-year-old son on August 7, 2022. Picture: Zizi Averill

“You should not be concerned that you are facing the prospect of incarceration in any real terms — I don’t want you to be worried about that,” he told Hinks.

“Does that set your mind at rest?”

“A little,” the Darwin mother quietly responded.

The kidnapper was accompanied by a crowd of supporters in the court gallery, including independent candidate for Solomon Janey Davies and Darwin City Councillor Amye Un.

Her sentencing was adjourned to March 18.

Originally published as Laura Adele Hinks to avoid prison after kidnapping daughter leading to 13 day missing persons search