Harley James Roy Pink, 40, sentenced for stealing copper wire, causing $270 damage to businesses

A man who’d worked for more than a decade in the music industry has faced court over persistent offending that involved stealing copper wire and causing some $270,000 worth of damages to local properties.

Copper generic

An unemployed North Maclean man has been sentenced after stealing and damaging more than $270,000 worth of goods from properties across southeast Queensland.

Harley James Roy Pink, 40, pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court on September 4 to 29 charges, including eight entering premises and committing an indictable offence by break charges, 11 stealing charges and 10 wilful damage charges.

The court heard Pink had an extensive criminal history including an 18-month jail sentence for similar break and enters.

Pink, who has three children, was previously involved in a good family business in the music industry for 14 years.

But the court heard he stopped working there after losing his blue card because of his offending.

The current offences occurred between 2020 and 2022 and were committed while serving other suspended sentences.

The court heard Pink caused more than $62,000 in damage to commercial properties and that it was persistent offending, with some properties targeted several times across Rocklea, Eastern Heights and Silkstone areas.

The court was also told Pink stole batteries, a trailer and copper wire from parks such as Jindalee Park — three times — and sporting recreation centres.

After his release on bail last year he went looking for properties where he knew there was copper wire, the court heard.

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren said the community denounced that type of behaviour and pointed out that Pink had caused extensive damage to businesses.

He said targeting copper wire was a recent phenomenon which the community denounced.

Pink was given a wholly suspended sentence of three years for all charges, to be served concurrently.

He has already served more than two years in pre-sentence custody.

Pink was remanded in custody pending an appearance in Ipswich Magistrates Court on unrelated charges.