Lane Polgreen: Recidivist motorbike thief sentenced after targeting Ipswich’s most vulnerable

An Ipswich dad of three has been sentenced to jail following two years of “opportunistic” and “dishonest” behaviour. FULL STORY:

A young Ipswich father has faced sentence after stealing motorbikes, a caravan, and other goods from vulnerable people, such as the homeless and elderly, over a period of two years.

Churchill man Lane Polgreen, 20, pleaded guilty at Ipswich Magistrates Court on Tuesday to 34 charges, including entering a dwelling and committing an indictable offence, stealing vehicles, possessing dangerous drugs, and dangerously operating a vehicle while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance.

The court heard the offences occurred between April 16 last year and August 20 this year, when Polgreen was remanded in custody.

Police prosecutor Mr Tsoi said Polgreen’s offending behaviour was “very concerning and serious”, particularly given its consistency.

He referred to Polgreen’s behaviour as “opportunistic” and “dishonest” as he often stole from people who were over the age of 75 or homeless.

The court was told his personal life had influenced his behaviour.

A father of three, Polgreen was said to have struggled to “stay clean” from marijuana and ice in recent years.

The court heard his own father had been in and out of jail throughout his youth, and his relationship with his mother had deteriorated.

In a letter addressed to the court, Polgreen wrote he would like to move away from Ipswich and start again with his partner and three children, aged six, two, and one.

Magistrate Payne told the court Polgreen’s offences were “extremely serious” in nature. One charge alone, entering a dwelling and committing an indictable offence, carried a maximum penalty of life.

Polgreen spent 54 days in pre-sentence custody.

In delivering his sentence, Ms Payne told Polgreen she had taken into account his age, his guilty plea, and that his offending was not violent.

She noted however that his offending was “prolific”, aggravated, and on some occasions pre-planned.

“Your offending is serious because of not only the nature of the offences but (because they) carry the maximum penalties,” Ms Payne said.

“You have shown a consistent disregard for the law – a consistent disregard for the community – in your offending behaviour.”

Polgreen was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment with parole release on January 12 next year.