In court: Five Lockyer Valley locals have been issued suspended jail sentences for their crimes

Guns, weapons, assault and thefts are just a handful of crimes that were committed which led to these locals slapped with jail sentences. LIST INSIDE:

The 2016-17 Queensland Magistrates Court annual report reveals our courts were extremely busy last year.

Repeat offenders and criminals who conducted dangerous break-and-enters have been jailed by the Gatton Magistrates Court.

Just this year alone, five Lockyer Valley residents have been handed down jail sentences during court proceedings.

Guns, ammo and 1kg of drugs in Lockyer man’s home

Weapons and ammo stored in the ceiling and almost 1kg of cannabis have been found in the home of a Lockyer Valley man fearful of returning to jail.

Alexander James Lewis had everything he needed to grow marijuana, from a growing guide to grow tents, fertilisers, chemicals and heat lights.

Police found his growing utensils and weapons when they searched his Kensington Grove home on May 20.

In the Gatton Magistrates Court on Monday, January 18, police prosecutor senior constable Narelle Lowe said the plants were discovered at Lewis‘ home.

Lewis pleaded guilty to 10 charges, including authority required to possess explosives, possessing shortened firearms, possessing utensils, possessing anything used in the commission of a crime, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing restricted items, producing dangerous drugs, receiving tainted property, unlawful possession of weapons (x2).

He was sentenced with a total of 30 months imprisonment for all 10 charges, suspended for 18 months.

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Repeat assault offender denied parole, given prison sentence

It’s a case of third strike and you’re out for a Gatton man who punched a fellow drinker in the head during an incident he wasn’t even involved in.

Callum Brian Woolacott was sentenced to four months imprisonment, which was suspended for three years, after his punch hospitalised another person at the Gatton View Hotel.

In the Gatton Magistrates Court on Monday, March 29, it was revealed Woolacott was among a group of people who became rowdy with a customer at the drive through.

Police prosecutor sergeant Al Windsor told the court that a female patron not known to the victim started a heated conversation across the bar on December 18.

During the verbal stoush, Woolacott was bumped, and reached out to a bar stool to steady himself.

The victim turned around to see who had pushed him, and Woolacott punched him in the head with his right first, sergeant Windsor said.

A conviction was recorded.

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Jail sentence for Gatton woman linked to car thefts

A Gatton woman involved in a recent spree of car break ins has been handed a prison sentence for the offences.

Ranee Tillack pleaded guilty in the Gatton Magistrates Court on Monday, January 25, to three charges.

They included one charge of receiving tainted property, one charge of possessing dangerous drugs and one charge of possessing utensils or pipes that had been used in connection with using a dangerous drug.

Tillack also appeared with another 19 charges against her that will be heard at a later date including one charge of entering premises and committing an indictable offence.

Tillack, for the three offences, was handed three months imprisonment, wholly suspended for 18 months.

A conviction was recorded.

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Drunk man jailed for breaking in to old ‘mates’ home

A Gatton house burglar with a lengthy criminal history has been sentenced to jail after he broke into a local home.

Christopher James Spears pleaded guilty in the Gatton court on January 8, to one charge of entering a premises and committing an indictable offence by break.

It was revealed in court that Spears had been drinking heavily before having a fight with his partner prior to breaking into a Hill Street, Gatton, home in November last year.

Police were called to the address and conducted a forensic examination that found fingerprints on a glass louvre that had been removed allowing entry into the home.

Spears’ fingerprints were matched to the ones found on the louvre.

Magistrate Carroll sentenced Spears to four months prison with an immediate parole release.

A conviction was recorded

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Gatton man pleads guilty to 39 charges from behind bars in Wacol cell

A Gatton man held in custody since November pleaded guilty to a raft of serious charges spanning more than 18-months after police found meth, syringes and weapons in his possession.

Noel Robert Lee Williams pleaded guilty via video link from his Wacol cell to 39 charges, some of which dated back to 2019, in the Gatton Magistrates Court on February 24, 2021.

The court was told Williams committed a number of the serious offences while on parole and subject to a probation order.

Williams was sentenced to a total of 12 months imprisonment for failing to appear in court and for committing an indictable offence, suspended after serving 109 days in pre sentence custody.

He was convicted and not further punished for the spree of drug offences and disqualified from holding a drivers licence for six months.

Mr Saggers additionally sentenced Williams to an 18-month probation order where he must submit to counselling for his drug and alcohol addiction and mental health.

Convictions were recorded.

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