Coronavirus crisis: Geraldton Hospital mask thief Casey Shaelene Woods ‘threw masks at nurses’ during theft amid COVID-19 pandemic

A 24-year-old woman who distracted a nurse while she and her partner stole face masks threw several of the masks at the healthcare worker as the nurse tried to stop the theft. Casey Shaelene Woods, 24, stole the box of medical-grade masks from a trolley while the nurse was pre-screening patients at the Geraldton Hospital entrance on March 18. Woods pleaded guilty in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court today to seven charges including stealing. Her 34-year-old partner Jason Brett Oxenham has yet to enter a plea. Prosecuting Sgt Carey Owen said the pair stole the masks from a staff foyer which members of the public were forbidden to enter. Sgt Owen said a nurse tried to stop them but was unable to. “The accused threw several masks at the nurse before leaving,” he said. The incident was captured on CCTV footage. Defence lawyer Veronica Randall said Woods suffered from depression and anxiety and was the full-time carer of her mother, who has stage four cirrhosis of the liver and bipolar disorder. Woods told Magistrate Chris Miocevich she was a heavy drinker but had stopped using meth since her partner was remanded in custody at Greenough Regional Prison. She will be sentenced on May 18. Magistrate Chris Miocevich renewed Woods’ bail and remanded the matters to May 18 for sentencing. “You need help, otherwise you’re going to keep on offending, which doesn’t help you and it doesn’t help the community,” Mr Miocevich said. “You’re on a downward slope at the moment and if you don’t change you’re going to end up in prison.” Mr Miocevich urged Woods to seek drug and alcohol counselling and warned her not to reoffend in the meantime. “If you keep out of trouble, I’m not going to lock you up,” he said. “You’re probably only going to get into trouble from drinking and using meth.”