Kristy Towns pleads guilty to scrap metal burglary, drug possession

A former Sunshine Coast cleaner has not told police the whereabouts of thousands of dollars worth of scrap metal and the identity of her co-accused after they burgled a local business.

Kirsty Peta Towns faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday. Picture: Patrick Woods

A Marcoola woman has not given up her co-accused after she admitted to stealing thousands of dollars of metal from a Caloundra West business.

The court heard on Monday how Kristy Peta Towns objected to even telling police what happened to the expensive property she stole from the Bronwyn St address on January 13, 2023.

The 37-year-old’s blatant burglary was heard after she pleaded guilty to entering a premises to commit an indictable offence by break, stealing, possessing dangerous drugs and contravening a police direction.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard Towns was involved in the theft of more than $8000 of metal.

Police prosecutor Mel Pyke said a suspended jail term would be the likely sentence for Towns, conceding she co-operated to a “certain extent” by admitting to the break in when confronted with the footage of her at the scene.

Towns did not to tell police what happened to the loot or who her co-accused was. Picture: Patrick Woods

Sergeant Pyke said the Marcoola woman however did not give the “very expensive” property back which was taken and did not nominate her co-accused.

The police prosecutor said this offence would’ve come at great financial cost and inconvenience to the business involved.

Defence lawyer Patrick Meehan said the mother had worked in cleaning and support work in the past but had struggled with drugs during her life. She however hoped to engage in rehabilitation.

Mr Meehan said at the time of the burglary, Towns was “under the influence” of her co-accused. She was also unemployed and was unable to pay back restitution.

Magistrate Rod Madsen asked how much Towns netted from the brazen caper, saying she would’ve been “living it up” at someone else’s expense. The court heard Towns did not tell police this.

Her lawyer said it was metal which was stolen and sold for scrap, so the funds she would’ve received would not reflect the true value taken.

“What about the victims who lost this property,” Mr Madsen told Towns.

The magistrate told the 37-year-old her escapade would have caused a “substantial loss” to the business.

She was jailed for six months, which was suspended immediately for 18 months. She was also fined $600. He did not make an order for restitution as Towns had no capacity to pay it back.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Kristy Towns pleads guilty to scrap metal burglary, drug possession