Persistent thief targets hospital doctors’ offices and Cairns City businesses

A persistent thief targeted doctors’ offices in the Cairns Hospital intensive care unit and esplanade hotels when he started using meth again, a court has been told.

A ‘recidivist’ thief stole from four doctors inside the Cairns Hospital ICU, taking car keys, a computer and a backpack from the offices, a court has been told.

A “recidivist” thief targeted doctors’ offices inside the Cairns Hospital intensive care unit and esplanade hotels after he started using meth again earlier this year, a court has been told.

Michael Terrence Graham, 55, pleaded guilty in Cairns Magistrates Court to 13 offences committed in early 2025 around the city, including fraud, break and enter, public nuisance, trespassing and possessing stolen property and was sentenced to 26 months’ imprisonment.

Police prosecutor Claudia Verwey said the most serious of Graham’s latest crimes was a break-in at the Cairns Hospital via the emergency department.

Police Prosecutor Claudia Verwey said the cost and inconvenience to Graham’s victims was high, particularly the doctor whose car keys he stole.

“It’s extremely concerning that he has entered the intensive care unit, entered doctors’ offices, and stolen numerous items belonging to doctors, noting that he took a laptop and car keys, which would have caused significant inconvenience at the end of the doctor’s shift,” Ms Verwey said.

“You’ve got numerous victims who have incurred significant costs.”

The court was told that in another incident, he smashed a car window to take the bank cards and identity documents from inside the car, then racked up $237 of purchases on the stolen credit card at BWS, Woolworths, the Indian Brothers restaurant and Rip Curl.

A “recidivist” thief targetted doctors’ officers inside the Cairns Hospital intensive care unit and esplanade hotels after he started using meth again earlier this year, a court has been told.

Graham also threatened people with a set of hair clippers at a Night Owl in Townsville, stole $800 of beer and wine and a bicycle from the Mercure Resort, and was “chased out” of the Harbourside Hotel, the court was told.

Defence solicitor Madison Thieme said Graham had a tragic childhood, including being the victim of a serious crime himself, from which he had not yet recovered.

He self-medicated with drugs, she said, and had turned to meth again at the time of the recent offending.

Ms Thieme said he had recently received compensation and had a stable, drug-free place to live in Innisfail on his release.

She said he hoped to use the compensation he received to get help, rehabilitate and recover.

“This represents a pivotal turn in his life … and in custody, he is doing well,” she said.

Magistrate Jakub Lodziak sentenced Graham to 26 months imprisonment, commenting on his ‘continual offending’.

Magistrate Jakub Lodziak sentenced Graham to 26 months’ imprisonment, declared the 120 days he had served on remand as time already served under the sentence and set a parole release date at November 23, 2025.

“You have an extensive criminal history and you’re onto your 14th page of criminal history in Queensland,” Mr Lodziak said.

“A lot of people are considerably out of pocket from your offending … these are people just going about their days, trying to do their best, and they certainly don’t deserve this.

“Having regard to your continual offending, the only appropriate sentence is imprisonment.”

Originally published as Persistent thief targets hospital doctors’ offices and Cairns City businesses