Shirley May Williams in court for robbery and serious assault

A woman who bashed and robbed a pensioner over her alleged treatment of a homeless girl, later ran amok in the Hervey Bay Hospital and seriously assaulted a police officer.

Shirley May Williams, 38, had a disagreement with the pensioner last October, which escalated into a robbery and attack on the older woman.

A Hervey Bay woman who punched an older woman and spat on a police officer has had her day in district court.

Shirley May Williams, 38, had a disagreement with the pensioner last October, which escalated into a robbery and attack on the older woman.

The Hervey Bay District Court heard this week that on October 2, 2024, Williams approached the victim at a Hervey Bay shopping centre and told her:

“I’m doing this because of what you did to Jane”.

Defence Barrister Jack Kennedy later said “Jane” was the name of a homeless girl Williams looked after and who she felt had been wronged by the older woman.

The court heard Williams punched the victim in the back of the head, then stole a cigarette and a bracelet.

Further violence continued when she grabbed the woman’s wrist, leaving behind scratches, bruising, and swelling.

Shirley May Williams, 38, had a disagreement with the pensioner last October, which escalated into a robbery and attack on the older woman.

Williams then stole her bag and walked off as the victim made a call to the police, who arrived shortly after to find Williams still inside the shopping centre.

She was charged and sent to the watch house, before being taken to Hervey Bay Hospital on October 5 for medical treatment.

It was five days later, on October 10, that she became “irate” and put other’s safety in jeopardy at the hospital, Crown Prosecutor Aden Tranent told the court.

Police officers went to the hospital and tried to restrain Williams, when she kicked the victim police officer in the chest with both feet.

She then started screaming at the police, calling them “pedophiles, murderers, and rapists”.

Williams continued to struggle before spitting on an officer, the court was told.

She was eventually sedated, charged, and sent back to the watch house, where she has remained since.

Mr Kennedy said Williams was going through alcohol and drug withdrawals when she was admitted to hospital.

He described her time in jail as a “saving grace for her” because she could get clean from illicit substances.

The mother of eight pleaded guilty to robbery using personal violence, and serious assault.

Judge Ian Dearden sentenced her to two years jail for the robbery and nine months for the serious assault, with the sentences to run concurrently.

She was given an immediate parole release date of February 20, 2025.

Originally published as Shirley May Williams in court for robbery and serious assault