Serial thief Kurrin Edward Jackson sentenced in Gladstone court

A Gladstone court has heard how a drug-driver and serial thief on 16 charges turned to drugs while unemployed and how he would like to reset in Hervey Bay once released from custody.

Kurrin Edward Jackson has faced Gladstone Magistrates Court on a string of charges including multiple counts of theft.

A serial thief was addicted to both methamphetamine and marijuana when he went on his latest criminal spree, a court has heard.

Kurrin Edward Jackson, 31, appeared in custody in Gladstone Magistrates Court on April 5, where he pleaded guilty to 16 charges including multiple counts of stealing, drug driving, and two counts of disqualified driving among other offences.

A nine-page sentencing schedule was tendered to Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan.

The court heard police busted Jackson drug driving with methamphetamine in his system on October 28 last year and at that time, he was a disqualified driver.

Police again caught Jackson driving while he was disqualified on December 8 last year.

In relation to the stealing offences, police prosecutor Jennifer Leach said on December 31 last year, Jackson stole $733.10 worth of groceries from Woolworths Chinchilla.

Police caught Jackson shortly after he left the store and the groceries were returned.

Ms Leach said two months later on February 15, Jackson stole $310 of goods from Priceline Pharmacy at West Gladstone.

On the same day, Jackson stole $250 worth of items from a Big W store and “an unknown” number of items from a Kmart store.

Ms Leach said then on February 23, Jackson stole a $300 drill from a retail outlet.

The court heard Jackson’s criminal and traffic histories were both three pages long, and he had spent 37 days in pre-sentence custody.

Ms Leach said both of those histories dated back to 2012.

“The majority of (Jackson’s) history relates to drug-type offending,” the prosecutor said, adding Jackson had previous stealing offences plus an unlawful use of a motor vehicle offence.

Solicitor Bianca Wieland said the 37 days’ pre-sentence custody was the first time Jackson had spent time behind bars.

Ms Wieland said Jackson had been unemployed for the past two years and it was during that period that he got himself into trouble with drugs.

She said all of Jackson’s offending occurred while he was addicted to methamphetamine and marijuana and he had stolen to fuel his drug habits.

Ms Wieland said Jackson was on medication for anxiety and depression and undergoing drug rehab, and after being released from custody, he planned to go live with his sister at Hervey Bay.

Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan noted that Jackson had “a solid work history” up until two years ago.

Ms Buchanan sentenced Jackson to three months’ jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of 18 months.

Ms Buchanan did not declare the pre-sentence custody but she said she had taken that into account.

A restitution order was made for the stolen goods that had not been recovered and Jackson was disqualified from driving for two years and seven months.

Convictions were recorded.