John Joseph Cassidy pleads guilty to break and enter, stealing charges

A man has faced sentence for his role in a crime spree across the Kingaroy, Gold Coast and Moreton areas that included the theft of $20,000 in cigarettes.

BRAZEN thieves broke into a rural service station and drove off with nearly $20,000 worth of cigarettes and tobacco.

They also swiped tools and $3000 in cash but CCTV filmed them and their getaway vehicle — a stolen Toyota Landcruiser — which was used in a string of offences across the Gold Coast, Kingaroy and Moreton areas.

This week one of the culprits, John Joseph Cassidy, 23, went before Ipswich Magistrates Court for sentence for his role in what was a short but swift crime spree in March and early April.

Cassidy pleaded guilty to 20 charges that included the unlawful use of a stolen motor vehicle at Goodna on April 1; receiving stolen registration plates; stealing $149.99 in fuel (diesel) from a service station at Ashmore on March 25; stealing fuel at Nanango ($151); stealing from Bunnings at Kingaroy; being in unlawful possession of a stolen boat and trailer in Bundall on March 29; break and enter to stealing at HQ Plantations on March 30; receiving tainted goods – power tools; unlawful possession of a category H weapon – a shotgun; and driving when disqualified.

The most serious charge was breaking into premises of a service station on the D’Aguilar Highway at Colinton and stealing cigarettes valued at nearly $20,000, along with $3000 in cash and valuable mechanical tools.

Prosecutor Sergeant Nicholas Turnbull said the crimes were aggravated in that Cassidy was on parole release at the time for similar offences.

Police sought a jail term of between 18 to 24 months.

Because of the latest Covid lockdown his defence lawyer Ms Brown appeared by phone.

She said Cassidy had been using the drug ice since 15.

“He was again using and the offences were done while under the influence. With drug use he did not realise what he was doing,” Ms Brown said.

Cassidy was a qualified butcher who had then run a logging business that went into bankruptcy, however, Ms Brown said he instructed that he wants to return to that.

She said his written letter to the court shows him to be “incredibly remorseful”.

Ms Brown said Cassidy received a 12-month jail order for offences in August 2020 and been released to parole in February.

He was returned to custody in early April.

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess said they were significant offences and he and a co-accused had been in possession of a Toyota Landcruiser that had been stolen following a burglary at Robina.

She said that along with the cigarettes valued at nearly $20,000, very valuable power tools were stolen from the Colinton business that belonged to the mechanic.

Stolen plates had then been attached to the Landcruiser.

Tools had also been stolen from HQ Plantations and significant property from Bunnings Kingaroy.

When the stolen boat was located police found stolen goods including tyres and rims, and an impact driver.

“There were an awful lot of victims in your crime spree who bore the brunt of your offending,” Ms Sturgess said.

“People who suffered a financial loss as a consequence of your offending.”

Ms Sturgess said Cassidy, for a young man of 23, had significant criminal history with 29 previous offences for dishonesty.

Along with six previous convictions for driving when disqualified. He had previously been dealt with by the courts at Kingaroy, Pine Rivers and Nanango.

Ms Sturgess sentenced him to an 18-month jail term along with lesser concurrent jail sentences.

Cassidy was given immediate eligibility to begin his parole application. He was disqualified from driving for another two years.