Reece Hucklebridge of Corio, fined $2000 for drug fuelled burglary and theft

A Corio man who stole thousands of dollars worth of items from a pet shop, was linked to the crime after leaving half a can of soft drink at the scene.

Reece Hucklebridge stole thousands of dollars worth of items from a pet shop, was linked to the crime after leaving half a can of soft drink at the scene.

A mechanical fitter and landscaper from Corio stole thousands of dollars worth of items from a pet store in Torquay during the height of his drug addiction and told police he was “fried at the time”.

Reece Hucklebridge, 23, pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to theft and burglary charges and was fined $2000 without convictions.

Hucklebridge had a neck tattoo and a long sleeve shirt when he fronted court, having been before the magistrate just 12 months earlier for similar offending where he was sentenced to a community corrections order.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Kiley Gray said the offence happened in the early hours of October 2022, however, police didn’t interview him until December 2023 as a result of DNA evidence linking him to the crime.

Constable Gray said Hucklebridge forced his way through the former business, Torquay Stockfeeds by jimmying through the office door.

Hucklebridge was captured on CCTV wearing a puffer jacket and a balaclava rummaging through the business and collecting items.

The court heard Hucklebridge stole $2000 worth of items, including pet collars, and assorted food items.

While in the premises he opened a carton of soft drink, and consumed half of the can.

The can was later examined at the crime scene by police and as a result, a swab matched his DNA.

Hucklebridge was interviewed at a police station on December 14, 2023 and could not recall the incident.

He told police “I have no recollection…I was fried at the time using drugs heavily, I barely remember anything from back then.”

Hucklebridge’s lawyer, Theo Magazis, said his client only had 14 hours left of his corrections order that he was sentenced in April 2023.

Mr Magazis said his client’s offending occurred when he had a significant drug addiction to amphetamines.

“He is doing well in his CCO, he hasn’t come to the attention of the police and there is nothing outstanding,” Mr Magazis said.

“He managed to control his drug problem and stopped his drug use and that was as a result of being remanded in custody for a period of two days,” he said.

Magistrate Franz Holzer fined Hucklebridge $2000 and warned him to not come back before the courts again.

Originally published as Reece Hucklebridge of Corio, fined $2000 for drug fuelled burglary and theft