'I hear voices 24/7': Shoplifter's open admission in court after stealing dozens of perfumes

For months, a woman moved from store to store stealing thousands of dollars of goods while battling the grip of addiction and a mind she says she could no longer control.

It was Crystal Jones’ own description of hearing voices, believing she was being controlled and fearing a “new world order” that revealed the complex mental health concerns at the heart of her recent sentencing.

Jones pleaded guilty earlier this year to a spree of shoplifting offences across Northland and two violent assaults on members of the public.

In total Jones faced 24 charges related to theft, assault and department breaches.

“It’s quite a crime spree,” Judge Philip Rzepecky said at her recent sentencing in the Whangārei District Court.

The offending began in December 2024 when she stole $175 worth of goods from Chemist Warehouse in Whangārei.

Three days later, on January 31, she targeted Rebel Sport in Whangārei, stealing footwear valued at more than $600.

During the same period, she committed an assault after approaching a stranger sitting in a vehicle.

The court heard she asked the occupant for cannabis before attempting to take cigarettes from inside the vehicle.

She then grabbed the driver’s shirt and punched the victim in the nose with a closed fist.

Members of the public intervened and removed her from the scene.

In January this year, she was at service station in Dargaville, where she attempted to steal a phone charger.

She was stopped and the attendant closed the door.

“Ring the police, they are my police go back to your own country,” Jones allegedly told the attendant.

She then went around the store opening drinks from the fridge and throwing them around. As she was escorted from the store, she punched the attendant.

The most significant offending of theft involved repeated trips to Chemist Warehouse, Warkworth.

On March 26, she stole 18 fragrances valued at more than $3000.

Later the same day, she returned and took a further six fragrances worth $1356 and days later went back and took more valued at more than $2000.

On April 6, she returned to the Warkworth store twice, taking 21 fragrances in one hit and more goods valued at more than $3000.

Still on her spree with Chemist Warehouse, she went back and took $1200 of goods, mainly skincare.

Her offending also included thefts from Four Square in Kaiwaka and Mangawhai.

Police say the total value of goods stolen across all charges was $15,140.27.

Her lawyer David Sayes said her crimes were committed to fund her drug addiction but her complex mental health needs became a sticking point.

Crystal Jones told the court she hears voices 24/7. Photo / NZME

When Jones was arrested, mental health reports determined she was fit to plead meaning she understood what she had done and the consequences.

But Jones told pre-sentence report writers the assault occurred because of World War III and “I needed to get ready for the new world order”. She also believed the store owner was trying to kidnap her.

“I took a candle to get ready because of the war but they tried to lock me in the shop. The other assault happened because I was drunk and I can’t remember anything,” Jones said in her report.

Jones also said she was not in control of her body.

“I’m just a pair of eyes looking out that someone is controlling my body and what I’m doing,” she revealed.

Sayes said she had been compliant with medication while on remand but was concerned once released, she would become “churn in the system”.

“I still hear voices”

Sayes said Jones wanted community detention with supervision to ensure she was keeping up with her medication and monitored by Corrections.

But Corrections advised in the pre-sentence report Jones’ mental health needs were “beyond their scope” and recommended imprisonment.

“We shouldn’t just discard something because the work’s too hard,” Sayes said.

Although Judge Rzepecky agreed, he said Jones’ issues were health problems, not Correction issues.

“I think the probation officer can’t handle me,” Jones intervened from the dock.

While the debate over how she could be medically monitored continued, Jones interrupted again.

“I still hear voices, even after four and a half months being in jail with no drugs. I hear voices 24/7 without drugs,” she said, which sent the courtroom quiet.

Her mother stood from the public gallery and said she would prefer her daughter was on home detention rather than having the option to go into the community.

Police prosecutor Tiegan Hemmins requested emotional harm reparation be paid to the victim of the assault but Judge Rzepecky said it was pointless.

Judge Rzepecky noted there were limited options in sentencing Jones unless she was in a residential facility but did not agree with Corrections’ recommendation she be imprisoned.

“There’s remorse and a degree of insight into the assaults but tempered by unrealistic mental health issues,” Judge Rzepecky said.

“I believe it is a chance to have time in the community with proper mental health oversight.”

Jones was sentenced to 10 months’ home detention.

Shannon Pitman is a Whangārei-based reporter for Open Justice covering courts in the Te Tai Tokerau region. She is of Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Pūkenga descent and has worked in digital media for the past five years. She joined NZME in 2023.