Joshua James Shannon pleads guilty to receiving tainted property, attempted fraud

A man in the grips of drug addiction has faced an Ipswich court on two dozen charges ranging from attempted fraud to unlawful use of a motorcycle.

A man spent time behind bars for offences including trying to buy a scooter online using a stolen card.

LOOKING for a new set of wheels, a thrifty tradie went online and tried to purchase an electric scooter for $3910.

He wasn’t successful which was fortunate for the owner of the stolen credit card Joshua Shannon was trying to use for the transaction.

An Ipswich court this week heard that when police caught up with Shannon he was found with a bundle of copper wire that was suspected of being stolen.

Those incidents formed just a few of two dozen charges Shannon pleaded guilty to at Ipswich Magistrates Court.

Appearing from jail via video-link, Joshua James Shannon, 34, a tradie from Springwood and previously Bundamba, pleaded guilty to charges including six counts of receiving tainted goods; possession of a dangerous drug (methylamphetamine); possession of drug utensils; enter premises to steal; attempted fraud; unlawful use of a motorcycle on July 16 at East Ipswich; driving unlicensed; and failing to appear at court.

Prosecutor Sergeant Nicholas Turnbull said Shannon had history for drug offending and appeared to have been in the grip of worsening drug use at the time.

The court heard Shannon was on bail at the time of his offending.

Sgt Turnbull said when officers went to a house at Bundamba on March 11 a large amount of copper wire belonging to Energex was found.

Shannon was also in possession of a wallet that held cards and driver’s licences belonging to different people.

The court heard Shannon was identified as the person who went online at 2.50am on February 22 with an unsuccessful attempt to use a stolen credit card to buy an electric scooter for $3910.

In another incident, CCTV recorded Shannon entering the car park of East Ipswich train station, pushing a blue Yamaha motorcycle away.

Sgt Turnbull said Shannon attempted to ride the bike but a passer-by saw him and yelled out. Shannon dropped the motorcycle and ran off.

Defence lawyer Matthew Fairclough said Shannon was a father of one and worked as a spray painter.

Drugs had been a problem periodically for him and at times he would be able to refrain.

Mr Fairclough said Shannon’s current one-month stint in jail was his first time behind bars.

He said Shannon was not a lost cause and would benefit from parole.

Magistrate Leanne Scoines said many of the offences occurred between January 1 and July 16 and included offences where he had been found in possession of other people’s property.

She said one involved a woman’s handbag and cards including a driver’s licence that he had obtained.

She noted that he tried to purchase a scooter with a person’s card, and when located by police Shannon had drug paraphernalia and a white crystal substance identified as ice.

Ms Scoines said Shannon also entered a parked car and stole items while the female owner was at a shop.

She said there were gaps in his offending and it would appear he committed his crimes by trying to obtain money to feed his drug habit.

Shannon was sentenced to nine months’ jail for entering premises and stealing, with an additional one month for failing to appear at court.

He also received concurrent jail sentences of five months for the tainted property charges, and six months for unlawful use.

With 36 days already spent in jail he was released on parole.