Pregnant mother of six walks free after breaching parole

Woman offends months after walking out of prison over a fatal traffic crash that killed a beloved Mackay mother.

Pregnant mother of six Suzanne Jane Smith pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $4000 in beauty products during a break and enter. Picture: Janessa Ekert

A PREGNANT mother of six broke into a Mackay CBD business and stole $4000 worth of stock just months after she walked out of prison over the fatal traffic crash that killed Janette Gellatly.

Suzanne Jane Smith walked free again despite breaching her parole four months after her release.

She was also pregnant when she was jailed for three years in Mackay District Court for dangerous driving causing death while high on ice and marijuana in June 2018.

The self-proclaimed former drug addict had been weaving through traffic at speeds of 120km when the car she was driving crashed head-on with Mrs Gellatly' car on July 15, 2016 at Hampden.

The much-loved 44 year old died at the scene.

Smith was granted parole on January 31 this year but barely six months later she was back in court, pregnant with baby number seven, pleading guilty to break and enter with intent.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard the 30 year old had been with a man when the pair slipped into Mackay Acupuncture and Naturopathic Clinic via an upstairs entry and ransacked the Sydney St business overnight on May 30 this year.

"And $3996.50 worth of stock was stolen," prosecutor Joshua Morris said, adding it was "not an insignificant amount".

Smith's fingerprints were found throughout the premises.

Items stolen included shampoos and various beauty serums.

The court heard the Department of Corrective Services was not cancelling Smith's parole order.

Defence solicitor Chris Colwill, for Smith, said his client was three-and-a-half months pregnant.

The court heard none of her children were currently under her care.

At the time of the latest offending, Mr Colwill said, Smith's life "was hectic", she had no income and was couch surfing.

"This offence was one where, she tells me, on the night in question she was with her then partner, they broke into this business for somewhere to stay," Mr Colwill said.

"She tells me that she did not take anything however, had a reasonable suspicion that the fact the premises were left open and ... her then partner did have some history with stealing ... even though she was just trying to stay there overnight that items were more likely than not going to be (stolen)."

The court heard Smith had stopped smoking marijuana since falling pregnant again.

She now had stable accommodation, had support networks and was receiving Centrelink.

Magistrate Mark Nolan said it was serious offending but ultimately gave Smith a wholly suspended six-month jail term allowing her to walk free from court.

"No doubt your intrusion injured their business and the (stealing) created significant difficulties for that business," Mr Nolan said.

"It's an aggravating circumstance that at the time you were subject to a parole order."

Smith will be on a suspended sentence for the next 18 months.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Pregnant mother of six walks free after breaching parole