Career crook Kelly facing more prison
A GEELONG mum faces a nervous wait on charges that could see her deported.
Kelly Webb, 31, pleaded guilty in Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday to multiple thefts and committing offences while on bail.
She will wait until Monday to learn her fate.
The offending, which happened between May last year and this month, came after Ms Webb spent eight months in an immigration detention facility due to her long criminal record.
Webb moved to Australia from the UK when she was two years old, but never became an Australian citizen.
Her latest crimes targeted retail stores and a library around Geelong.
On May 4, Webb stole more than $100 worth of hair and make-up products from My Chemist in Market Square.
On August 7, she turned her attention to Geelong library, stealing four DVDs and 13 CDs valued at $672.
She was arrested and bailed in October, but continued offending soon after when she stole six UDL cans and a can of bourbon from Dan Murphy’s in Newcomb.
On January 2, while pushing a pram with a child inside, Webb stole a slab of beer, a bottle of bourbon and two UDL cans.
During the first week of February, police made several arrangements with Webb for her to attend a police station to be interviewed, but she dodged each of those appointments.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Jacki Davis said Webb had told officers she feared she would be deported if she was taken into custody.
After failing to attend court on February 7, Webb was arrested in the front yard of a neighbour’s property.
The court heard the motherof-five had struggled with the pressure of coming to international media attention when she narrowly avoided deportation in 2016.
Defence lawyer Adrian Paull said it compounded other issues in her life, including her responsibility caring for her two-year-old child while living in a caravan on her mother’s property.
He said it eventually led to her using ice and culminated in the latest offending.
“What was effectively happening was Ms Webb’s mother was giving her money to buy her alcohol,” Mr Paull said.
“She would then hold on to that money and steal the items sought by her mother.”
Webb then used the money to fund her drug addiction, the court was told.
Mr Paull said it would be “devastating” if Webb’s immigration status was reviewed following the latest court proceedings.
He said the Whittington woman was planning to move to Norlane if released from custody, and was hopeful of eventually shifting to Perth to gain a “fresh start” in life.
Webb has been in custody since her arrest on February 7, the court was told.
For the prosecution, SenConstable Davis called for a strong punishment given Ms Webb’s “continued blatant disregard for the law”.
Magistrate John Lesser deferred sentencing to next Monday to allow Webb to be assessed for a community corrections order.
But he warned a combination of jail time and a CCO was likely.
Mr Lesser ordered Webb to repay more than $900 to the four businesses she targeted.
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has previously said it was aware of the case.