Magistrate denies bail for woman with ‘extensive history of offending’

A condition to stay out of the Bundaberg CBD could not save an alleged repeat offender from Christmas behind bars on remand as a Magistrate declared her too great a risk.

A Bundaberg woman has been denied bail after copping four charges in a CBD ‘incident.’

A Bundaberg woman will spend Christmas behind bars on remand after a Magistrate denied her bail application.

Cassidy Caryl Devney appeared by videolink from custody in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Thursday, seeking bail on the four charges laid against her.

These included two counts of stealing after a previous conviction, one public nuisance offence, and one count of obstructing a police officer.

Defence solicitor Louise Blue told the court “one incident in the CBD” resulted in her client copping the four fresh charges.

Ms Blue pleaded with the Magistrate, telling the court her client had significant mental health concerns and was recently submitted to hospital because of a mental health episode.

“She is trying to get on to some stable medication,” she said.

Devney’s lawyer said keeping her out of the CBD would reduce her risk of reoffending.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Donna Sperling objected to bail, telling the court Devney had continued to offend despite being on both probation and parole.

Ms Blue said a condition in her client's bail application was that she would not be allowed inside the Bundaberg CBD, a condition she felt would “see her risk of reoffending greatly reduced.”

Magistrate Stephen Guttridge was not convinced this would work.

“She has an extensive history of similar offending charges,” he said.

“Bail is refused.”

As Devney appeared agitated and confused on the videolink, Mr Guttridge asked her if she understood what had happened, to which she replied “no, not really.”

“You’ll be in custody until the fifth of January,” he told her at which point she was seen bursting into tears before the call was cut-off.

Originally published as Magistrate denies bail for woman with ‘extensive history of offending’