James Christopher Parker sentenced at Gladstone for stealing offences

A man on a stealing spree targeted a boat, a home and a vacant block but he still went back to the vessel for a second helping.

James Christopher Parker was sentenced in Gladstone Magistrates Court.

A man who had a “long history with drugs” was out of work when he committed a stealing spree in Central Queensland, a court has heard.

James Christopher Parker, 41, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to charges including stealing, enter dwelling and commit, enter premises and commit indictable offence, and receiving tainted property.

The court heard in May, Parker removed a soft cover from a boat at a Tannum Sands residence and stole a 20L jerry can, a GPS sounder, three life jackets, numerous crab pots, and a fuel tank and fuel line.

Police prosecutor Jennifer Leach said Parker left the cover off the vessel and took the stolen items to his residence in Pleasant Ave, Tannum Sands.

“The victim returned home around midnight... and noticed that the cover was missing from her vessel - she then inspected closer and identified that the above items were missing,” Ms Leach said.

The court heard just days later, Parker returned to the scene of the crime for a second helping.

James Christopher Parker.

Ms Leach said this time he removed a 15-horsepower Mercury outboard motor from the boat and took it to his residence.

The court was told some days later, about 2.30am, Parker entered a vacant block of land at Tannum Sands and stole a BMX bike and fishing rod holders from behind a shed.

In the following days, Parker went into a garage at a West Gladstone residence and took a Suzuki trike.

In relation to the tainted property charge, when police executed a search warrant at Parker’s residence to recover the stolen items, they also found him with a street sign which had “Ipswich City Council” inscribed.

“(Parker) admitted that he had stolen it (street sign) from a signpost some years ago when he was in the Ipswich area,” Ms Leach said.

The court heard all of the stolen property was recovered from Parker’s residence.

It was told Parker had a 12-page criminal history which included property, drug and dishonesty offences, and he was on suspended sentences at the time of committing these latest offences.

Solicitor Jun Pepito said Parker had been without work at the time of committing these offences in May and he had since attended Drug ARM for his issues.

The court heard Parker had “a long history with drugs” that he was trying to address.

Magistrate Mary Buchanan sentenced Parker to six months’ jail, activated two suspended sentences to be served cumulatively, and fixed immediate parole.

Convictions were recorded.