James Dodds faces court after spree of break-in thefts from “most vulnerable” elderly victims

A 47-year-old Ipswich man faced court from behind bars after stealing credit cards from a series of elderly victims while they were in their own homes.

James Dodds, 47, faced Ipswich court this morning for a series of break-in thefts from ‘vulnerable’ elderly victims.

The court heard that on June 3 2021, Dodds broke into a 95-year-old man’s house.

The man was sitting in his living room at the time, and watched as Dodds stole his wallet from the living room table before escaping on his bike.

Magistrate Kathleen Payne noted that this must have been an “absolutely horrifying experience” for the victim.

Three months later on September 20, Dodds entered through an 88-year-old woman’s unlocked door while she was putting her bins out.

The woman suffered from dementia, and Dodds continued to search both storeys of her house for 15 minutes after she re-entered, stealing an antique camera, coin collection, gold chain and bank card.

The woman’s daughter noticed the house had been disturbed when she later came to check on her, and sent CCTV footage of Dodd’s break-in to the police.

The CCTV footage showed Dodds carefully moving about the house and hiding from the woman as he continued to search for valuables.

James Dodds, 47, who faced Ipswich Court for a series of break-in thefts from elderly victims

On November 15 2021, Dodds committed a similar offence, stealing a handbag from a 76 year old woman.

Magistrate Payne said this was “absolutely shocking behaviour.”

“It’s so abhorrent because you’ve taken advantage of the most vulnerable members of the community in broad daylight,” she said.

Dodds also committed several fraud offences using the stolen credit cards, totally over $1000 worth of purchases.

On June 10 2022, Dodds pleaded guilty, via video link, to two counts of entering a dwelling and committing an indictable offence, 15 counts of fraud, one attempted fraud, and one count of stealing.

The court heard that Dodds suffers from heroin addiction, and had an extremely troubled childhood – in which his mother was imprisoned for taking his father’s life, and he was blinded in one eye during a rocky upbringing in his uncle’s care.

Dodds’ defence lawyer Christy Louden explained that Dodds “doesn’t like using the drugs” but they’re the “only things that numbs the feelings.”

He has an 11 page criminal history for similar offending, but has started volunteering and re-engaging with church during his most recent period of imprisonment.

Ms Louden noted that Dodds had caught COVID-19 twice during his imprisonment and was isolated as a result.
He is also currently waitlisted for rehabilitation courses and has started working as a cleaner in prison.

“Your offending is the bottom of the barrel of offending as far as morality goes in the community,” Magistrate Payne said..

Taking into account Dodd’s long history of offending, Magistrate Payne decided a sentence of imprisonment was warranted.

Dodds received two years imprisonment for the enter dwellings, four months for each of the fraud charges, six months for the stealing, and four months imprisonment for the attempted fraud – to be served concurrently.

His pre-sentence custody period of 196 days was declared time served, with parole release set for July 22 2022.