Tia Louise Collier pleads guilty to assault, stealing, trespassing

A Sunshine Coast woman who needed to be restrained by two courthouse security guards last month was far more subdued for her most recent appearance.

Tia Louise Collier at Caloundra Magistrates Court

A Beerwah woman who caused a scene at Caloundra Magistrates Court in February after clashing with security guards returned to court on Thursday in a noticeably subdued manner.

Tia Louise Collier reappeared to re-enter guilty pleas to 13 charges, including assault occasioning bodily harm, wilful damage, stealing, driving while disqualified, and trespassing. She also changed her previous not guilty plea for a stealing charge to guilty.

In February, her courtroom appearance was overshadowed by an outburst outside the courtroom.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Stephen Potter was in the middle of a hearing when a court employee requested his assistance with a disturbance.

Tia Louise Collier at Caloundra Magistrates Court

Collier was struggling with two female security guards when Sergeant Potter arrived. By that time, she had been restrained, her arms locked behind her back, as the guards repeatedly urged her to calm down.

“Let go of my arm, you stupid s--t … let go of my arm, you f-----g piece of s--t,” she shouted.

Sergeant Potter directed Collier to a nearby conference room in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.

Though the cause of her frustration was unclear, it appeared to be directed at one of the guards.

Once the commotion settled, Collier entered the courtroom for her scheduled hearing.

Sergeant Potter informed Magistrate Raelene Ellis of the earlier disruption and requested a two-week adjournment due to heightened emotions.

“Emotions are high in respect to something that went on outside the court,” he said.

However, Magistrate Ellis proceeded with the matter, and Collier pleaded guilty to the series of offences from 2024.

These included stealing from FoodWorks in Burnside on October 20, failing to identify herself to police in Caloundra on November 10, stealing petrol from BP Glenview on November 11, and failing to surrender to police in Maroochydore on November 27.

She also pleaded guilty to multiple counts of driving while disqualified, with offences committed in Landsborough, Forest Glen, Glenview, and Beerwah throughout October and November.

Tia Louise Collier at Caloundra Magistrates Court

Further charges included possessing a dangerous drug, an “acid tab” she admitted to having, assaulting another woman on August 16, and wilfully damaging car windows in Beerwah on November 1.

Initially, Collier contested a charge of stealing a drink from Fresh and Save Beerwah on October 2.

While she admitted to trespassing at the supermarket, having previously been banned, she originally denied the theft, claiming she had entered the store because other supermarkets were closed. However, on Thursday, she changed her plea to guilty.

The court also heard Collier wished to have her matter transferred to the Caboolture Murri Court.

Murri Court is a specialised court in Queensland that provides a culturally appropriate sentencing process for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants.

Magistrate Catherine Benson agreed and adjourned the case to April 11, when Collier is expected to be sentenced in Caboolture.

A Queensland Police spokesman confirmed officers were called to the courthouse in February following reports of a disturbance and a woman was asked to leave the premises.

The spokesman added the incident appeared to have stemmed from a verbal altercation.

Originally published as Tia Louise Collier pleads guilty to assault, stealing, trespassing