Leeroy James Ware jailed over two-day crime spree through Whyalla, Napperby and Melrose

The frightening events and threats to smash a victim’s knees during a two-day rampage across three towns have been laid bare.

An Eyre Peninsula man threatened to “smash” a man’s kneecaps if he did not sign over registration for his three cars at the beginning of a two day crime spree, a court has heard.

On October 25, Leeroy James Ware and Bronwyn Coleman entered a Whyalla home around 10.45pm.

Ware, 33, wielded a heavy sledgehammer and demanded the occupant sign the registration papers for one or more of the cars at his home.

“You were pacing around the kitchen with the hammer saying ‘I’m going to smash your kneecaps if you don’t fill the paperwork out properly’,” Auxiliary Judge Gordon Barrett said during sentencing in May.

The victim handed over three keys to a Holden Commodore, which was later written off, and a Kia to the pair.

A Holden Astra was left behind.

A mobile phone, Samsung tablet and $350 cash were also stolen from the property and the victim was not injured.

The court heard he then stole $100 worth of petrol from the Napperby BP service station the following morning.

Wade then travelled to the Wirrabira post office at 4.45am and attempted to break in before being spotted by one of the staff members who lived on-site.

The pair continued their offending spree at a Melrose business called Over the Edge Bike Shop.

A window was smashed and damage sustained to the front door cost just under $1400 and multiple items were stolen including a cash register, $5000 bike, clothes, six pairs of sunglasses, a laptop and a CCTV camera.

“Your motive for committing these offences was to obtain money for drugs,” Judge Barrett said.

Ware pleaded guilty to one count each of aggravated serious criminal trespass in residence, aggravated threatening to cause harm, aggravated serious criminal trespass in nonresidence, attempted serious criminal trespass in non residence and three counts of theft.

His co-accused Coleman, who Ware was allegedly in a violent relationship with, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated serious criminal trespass in residence and aggravated robbery.

The court heard she was sentenced to three years and 10 months imprisonment with two years non-parole on the basis she believed she would be “hit” if she did not participate.

Judge Barrett during sentencing said Ware had an “extensive” criminal history and had been in custody for half of his adult life.

His Honour sentenced Ware to five years, five months and seven days imprisonment with a non-parole period of three years, two months and eight days after factoring in time spent in custody.

The sentence was backdated to February 16, 2025 meaning he will be eligible for parole in April 2028.