Trial for alleged shoplifter

The partner of a serial shoplifter is set to face trial for allegedly attempting to shoplift in Rockingham. Jessica Alice Horan appeared in Bunbury Magistrate’s Court on Thursday where she entered pleas to multiple stealing charges. While Ms Horan denied one count, she admitted to her part in several shoplifting incidents that allegedly took place in Rockingham and Albany. It was alleged Horan attempted to steal a pair of headphones from JB Hi-Fi in Rockingham alongside convicted shoplifter Rowan Evans as well as allegedly stealing a black suitcase and clothing items from Target in Albany and a tent, inflatable mattress and electric pump from Trailblazers Albany. Ms Horan’s court appearance came a week after Evans was jailed for two years and fined $7900 for his part in the shoplifting incidents as well as leading police on a high-speed car chase in Bunbury, where Ms Horan was a passenger while Evans was driving, when the charges came to a head. Evans was seen by police driving Ms Horan’s Holden Commodore along Halifax Drive in Davenport and sped towards South Western Highway when police activated their lights. During the chase, Evans was travelling up to 140km/h in the 80km/h zone and driving on the wrong side of the road. The chase came to a screeching halt when Evans attempted a U-turn but lost control of the vehicle and crashed in bushland. Ms Horan, who was never charged in relation to the car chase, is next due to appear on April 22 for a trial allocation hearing. The maximum penalty for stealing is a fine up to $24,000 or two years imprisonment.