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Ice link to coast business break-in

A TIN Can Bay man charged with the recent break-in of a Cooloola Cove business was refused bail in Gympie Magistrates Court yesterday.

Gympie Magistrates Court. Picture: Patrick Woods
Gympie Magistrates Court. Picture: Patrick Woods

A TIN Can Bay man charged with the recent break-in of a Cooloola Cove business was refused bail in Gympie Magistrates Court yesterday.

David Andrew Stewart, 32, who is remanded on two charges of break and enter, and one each of possessing explosives and unlawful weapons, was visibly upset when he appeared in the Gympie court dock.

Gympie police prosecutor Sergeant Michael Phillips said if granted bail, Mr Stewart would pose an unacceptable risk of re-offending given his "strong drug habit".

He said Mr Stewart had gone through $4000 in a relatively short amount of time; an amount he had allegedly gained from one break and enter. Sgt Phillips also noted the defendant's possession of a sawn-off shotgun as being a serious offence.

Mr Stewart's defence lawyer, Chris Anderson, said the weapon was "no way used in the offences before the court".

Mr Anderson said his client had been drug free from 2008 until recently when he fell back into bad habits with his brother, a co-accused, who began using ice.

"When he applies himself to it he is a law abiding citizen," Mr Anderson said of his client.

He said Mr Stewart was prepared to report frequently, abstain from drugs and alcohol, submit to drug tests and abide by a curfew if granted bail.

Magistrate B. Barrett took into account the defendant's previous compliance with bail and break-in offending behaviour, but said the risk of re-offending remained too high.

"These offences have occurred to feed the drug habit," he said.

"He's an unacceptable risk, because I can not find any conditions that will reduce his risk of re-offending."

Mr Stewart was remanded in custody for further mention in Gympie Magistrates Court on October 26.

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/gympie/ice-link-to-coast-business-breakin/news-story/fd251df7fee0c369b7859086e0439fde