Serial thief Jessica Paula Curley jailed over Geraldton crime spree

A Mount Magnet woman with an “appalling record” for stealing to fund her meth habit — and whose latest arrest came as police found her hiding in a car boot — has been jailed over a spate of recent offences totalling thousands of dollars. Jessica Paula Curley, 34, was picked up by police on March 14 hiding in the boot of a car, which was involved in a police chase through the Aquarena carpark when officers tried to stop the driver. Curley had been banned from entering Geraldton when she continued to offend after being jailed last year for similar crimes. In Geraldton Magistrate’s Court on Monday, defence lawyer Georgia Keysers argued Curley had been stealing to buy food and other essential goods — a statement Magistrate Chris Miocevich did not buy “I don’t believe it,” he said. “Nothing has been said that would give me any reason to think she’s changed.” Prosecutor Sgt Beau Jones told the court Curley had been identified stealing on six occasions in February, including swiping a handbag and its contents which was valued at $2800 from a trolley in Target. “When questioned by police she said if there was CCTV it must have been her,” he said. “She said she sold it for drugs and cash.” Ms Keysers told the court Geraldton “isn’t the right place” for her client, and she got sucked back into offending. “If she’s not jailed she will move back to Mount Magnet to live next door to her mother,” she said. “She’s got a bus ticket booked today.” But Mr Miocevich said he had heard this all before and Curley had a “history of dishonesty” with the court. “I suspect she’s had a hard life, but Ms Curley continues to make promises and then breaks them,” he said. “She has an appalling record and continues to show a ... disregard for the law.” Curley was sentenced to a total period of seven months imprisonment, and will be eligible for parole. “I’m hoping when you get out you do go to Mount Magnet and you keep out of trouble,” Mr Miocevich said. “If you come back to Geraldton, history shows you’re highly likely to reoffend.”