Transgender woman, 37, jailed for drug-fuelled biscuit robbery spree is freed from all-male prison early as judge says her time behind bars with men would have been difficult

  • Transgender woman in male jail has been released six months after crime spree
  • Jacinta Mason committed property, drug and bail offences over eight months 
  • She pleaded guilty to 21 offences and has spent six months in custody in prison
  • Mason was originally sentenced to 18 months in jail, but was allowed parole 

A transgender prisoner in an all-male jail has been released just six months after a drug-fuelled crime spree.

From September 2017 to April, 37-year-old Jacinta Mason committed property, drug and bail offences.

Her rampage only came to an end when she was caught stealing biscuits from the Queensland Country Women's Association hall in the Gold Coast. 

Mason, who pleaded guilty to 21 offences at the Southport Magistrates Court on Friday, says she has little recollection of the crime spree as she was under the influence of drugs, The Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Over eight months Jacinta Mason (pictured) committed property, drug and bail offences that ended when she was caught stealing biscuits

Over eight months Jacinta Mason (pictured) committed property, drug and bail offences that ended when she was caught stealing biscuits

Mason was caught stealing biscuits from the Queensland Country Women's Association hall in the Gold Coast (an example of the biscuits is pictured)

Mason was caught stealing biscuits from the Queensland Country Women's Association hall in the Gold Coast (an example of the biscuits is pictured)

Legal Aid defence lawyer Vered Turner told the court Mason was happy to be arrested.

Despite her relief the spree was over, Ms Turner said Mason had undergone a difficult six months behind bars following her arrest due to being a pre-operation transgender woman in a male prison.

When sentencing, Magistrate Louise Shepherd said she took this into account.

'You are a pre-op transgender woman and I imagine that would bring many difficulties and stresses in your life,' Ms Shepherd said. 

'In the six months in custody you have done that time in a male prison, and I assume that brought its own difficulties for you and I take that into account.' 

Although she was originally given an 18-month sentence in prison, Mason was allowed parole as long as she paid $800 in restitution.

Mason (pictured) said she has little recollection of the crime spree because she was under the influence of drugs

Mason (pictured) said she has little recollection of the crime spree because she was under the influence of drugs

President of the Australian Transgender Support Association in Queensland, Gina Mather, told the publication that pre-operation transgender women always went to male prisons.

'You go to jail (according to) the genitalia between your legs,' Ms Mather said. 

Ms Mather said it's hard to change the law, but instead as tried to isolate pre-operation transgender people in protective custody.

Although progress has been made in Queensland Correctional Services, Ms Mather urges prisons to keep transgender women separate from men at night to keep them safe. 

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