Victoria Irvana Kelly: Geraldton shoplifter refused bail after pleading guilty to stealing, fraud and trespass

A prolific shoplifter will spend Christmas in custody after her request for home detention to see her sick mother was refused in court on Thursday. Victoria Irvana Kelly, 32, appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court via video link from Greenough Regional Prison, pleading guilty to three counts of stealing, two counts of gains benefit by fraud, trespass and breach of bail. Ms Kelly pleaded not guilty to a string of fraud and stealing offences back in June, as well as common assault. The court was told Kelly stole a jump-start kit worth $219 from Geraldton 4WD Service and Repair in May and stole from Rivers and IGA Glenfield in October, where she stole more than $600 in groceries. Days later, Kelly took out $150 of diesel at a Mount Tarcoola fuel station and used a stolen card to pay for it. She returned the same day, taking more than $100 in unleaded fuel and used the same card to pay for it. Kelly was charged with trespass for entering IGA Glenfield in October after being served a banning notice and failed to appear in the Geraldton Magistrate Court. In court, the shoplifter asked Magistrate Angus Hockton if she could be granted “home D”, but her bail was formally refused. Defence counsel Eva Svanberg said Kelly’s mother was unwell and hoped she could be bailed to visit her. Mr Hockton said Kelly had a poor record for similar offences, had offended every month until she was put in custody and showed a “real disregard” for businesses and the community. “Although some of it is relatively trivial ... (she) seems to have a wilfulness to obtain as much as she can from the community,” he said. “If there’s a funeral, or health issues, you can bring the evidence to court and we can reconsider.” The matter was adjourned to Thursday December 28.