Mum jailed for string of crimes on elderly

A NORLANE mother of six has been handed a six-month jail term and two-year community corrections order for her part in a string of crimes preying on vulnerable elderly men.

Felicia Kirby, 33, yesterday pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates’ Court after facing 18 charges including aggravated burglaries, robbery, at- tempted aggravated burglary and a number of deceptions.

The court yesterday heard the offences took place in Corio, Norlane, Geelong and Waurn Ponds from February 2016 to April of this year, including separate attacks on men aged 89, 74, 72 and 67.

Police Prosecutor Chris Capuano told the court that in one incident Kirby broke into a 72-year-old Norlane man’s home at 4am on April 20, pinning down the man — an em- physema sufferer — and stole about $40 from his shirt pocket.

Mr Capuano said the victim told police he slept with his cash because Kirby had been repeatedly breaking into his home at night to steal from him.

The very next day, Kirby and three other female offenders pushed their way into a 67year-old’s home in Geelong West where their theft included $95 in cash, an iPhone, iPad and pillow, Mr Capuano said.

The offenders woke up the victim’s disabled brother during the robbery, searching his bedroom for items to steal.

Police also described an attack on an 89-year-old Corio man by Kirby and three other offenders in which they pushed their way into his house and grabbed his bag from his shoulder.

The court heard the group took a bank card from the bag and left the scene, where the elderly man had fallen in his yard and had to crawl across to a neighbour’s home to get their attention before collapsing.

The man was treated at the Geelong hospital for distress, a swollen hand and scratched finger.

The defence lawyer for Kirby said the 33-year-old got into “bad company” in 2013.

Geelong Magistrate John Lesser yesterday delivered his verdict, sentencing Ms Kirby to six months imprisonment, followed by a two-year community corrections order.