Jody Thomson, once known as Catch Me If You Can conwoman Jody Harris, charged with fraud

WATCH | A former notorious conwoman who became a major fundraiser for Indigenous causes has been charged with offences including fraud and assault.

From left: Jody Thomson covers her face as she leaves court on Tuesday; Ms Thomson; her mother Debbie Kilroy shields her daughter after the bail hearing on Tuesday. Picture: John Gass

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A former notorious conwoman known as the Catch Me If You Can thief who became a major fundraiser for Indigenous causes has been charged with offences including fraud and assault.

Jody Thomson, previously known as Jody Harris, handed herself in to Queensland police on Tuesday morning in an agreement with detectives. She later appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court.

The daughter of lawyer and activist Debbie Kilroy and stepdaughter of former rugby league star Joe Kilroy, Ms Thomson is accused of last year defrauding, assaulting and stalking her wife, The Australian can reveal.

The court was told she was previously jailed for fraud and now faced new allegations she stole $78,000 from her wife when their 13-year relationship broke down last year.

Magistrate Aaron Simpson said she also faced “very serious” accusations of assault occasioning bodily harm.

With Ms Thomson’s mother and a close friend in the public gallery in support, Mr Simpson granted bail against the objections of police, noting she was not accused of any offending since last year.

“I’m not providing bail on the basis that I’m diminishing the seriousness of the alleged ­offending,” Mr Simpson said.

“I’d be granting bail on the basis that I don’t think her custody would be justified because conditions can address the risk, and it’s been an awfully long time since she’s been convicted of anything.” Ms Thomson, 47, contested all the allegations, the court was told.

Police are understood to have been told Ms Thomson allegedly monitored and controlled her wife through the use of mobile phone location app Life360 and CCTV cameras installed inside and outside her home.

After the break-up, Ms Thomson also allegedly tracked her wife’s movements and harassed and menaced her with “hang-up” phone calls and text messages from Telstra payphones, police were told.

Jody Thomson's mother, lawyer and activist Debbie Kilroy, shields her daughter after the bail hearing in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Picture: John Gass

Outside court, Ms Thomson shielded her face behind a black hoodie beside a friend as her mother, Ms Kilroy, laughed and waved her arms in an attempt to obstruct a photographer.

When Ms Thomson was asked by The Australian whether she had anything to say to the charges, Ms Kilroy, a prisoner ­advocate and campaigner against incarceration, responded: “No comment, move on.”

Ms Thomson’s last arrest prior to Tuesday was in 2006 for a crime spree that spanned NSW, Victoria and Queensland. She went on to be convicted in all three states.

In November, The Australian revealed that under her new name, Ms Thomson had become one of the nation’s most active ­online fundraisers.

Through her Queensland business Dreamtime Aroha, between 2021 and 2024 she drew in hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from the public for Indigenous causes.

Jody Thomson, left, formerly known as Jody Harris, with her mother Debbie Kilroy. Picture: Supplied.

In the process of running what was effectively a charity, Ms Thomson developed a huge social media following. On Instagram alone she has more than 80,000 followers, and regularly posts about stopping violence against women.

But Indigenous community members raised concerns about a lack of accountability in her fundraising, and made allegations of intimidation and bullying.

The Australian subsequently revealed in January that Ms Thomson was recently awarded workers’ compensation for serious psychological and physical ­injuries purportedly sustained in a minor car accident.

The Queensland government ordered two separate and ongoing investigations into her fundraising and WorkCover claim as a result of the reports.

Donated money went into her business’s bank accounts, to be distributed at her discretion. It is understood that as part of a Fair Trading investigation she is now being asked to account for how it was spent.

Ms Thomson at the time of her last arrest in Sydney in 2006 when she was known as Catch Me If You Can conwoman Jody Harris.

It can be revealed that in about April last year Ms Thomson’s wife went to police to report allegations Ms Thomson had assaulted and stolen from her, which led to all of the new charges.

Ms Thomson was arrested by appointment around 10am on Tuesday, after presenting herself to the Brisbane city watch-house.

Her lawyer, Kara Murphy, from Kilroy and Callaghan Lawyers, the firm established by her mother, told the court both parties had been taking money from bank accounts.

“There are divorce proceedings ongoing. They have just entered into the financial settlement area now, and there is a forensic accountant’s report being prepared,” Ms Murphy said.

The court heard she faced a total of five charges. The Australian was not permitted to see the charge sheets.

Police prosecutor Jordan Theed said Ms Thomson had previously received a 5½ to six-year jail sentence for fraud.

“Whilst there has been that gap, she does have a significant history with regards to dishonesty … interstate where she had the $147,000 fraud,” he said.

Mr Simpson said he expected Ms Thomson to ultimately say she was entitled to funds that were allegedly stolen.

“In the past, you have been convicted of significant offences of dishonesty … they were some time ago. There might be, for ­example, a more neutral explanation for the alleged fraud, at the very least, which is really what her previous behaviour has been about.” Mr Simpson said it would likely take “some time” for the matter to be resolved. The case was adjourned to July 21.

Additional reporting: Marcus de Blonk Smith