Why Troy Anthony Blackman had ‘deliberate intention’ to return to jail

A court has heard how an Ipswich man’s meth-fuelled crime spree was spurred by his “deliberate intention” to return to custody.

Why Troy Anthony Blackman had ‘deliberate intention’ to return to jail

A judge has warned a three-time prison head chef with more than 100 burglary and enter premises priors that he was wasting his life after his latest ‘clearly psychotic’ crime spree.

Silkstone resident Troy Anthony Blackman, 44, pleaded guilty on December 1, 2022, in Ipswich District Court to 20 charges including burglary by break with violence while armed, dangerous operation of a vehicle, evasion, and deprivation of liberty.

The court heard the majority of Blackman’s offences occurred on November 25, 2020, while he was “clearly psychotic”, according to Judge Dennis Lynch.

Judge Lynch said Blackman had taken up to a gram of methamphetamine and had been hearing voices on the day, which began when Blackman drove in front of a woman at a red light and tried to get into her car.

Crown prosecutor Jessica Beckman said the woman tried to drive away, but Blackman held onto her car for about 30 metres before letting go.

Ten minutes later, he broke into a house and demanded car keys from the occupant.

The occupant refused and Blackman threatened, “all right the gun’s coming out” while reaching behind his back and showing a black handle.

Ms Beckman noted the occupant’s 13-year-old child was present at the time.

Blackman took their car and drove to another house, where a woman was parked in the driveway.

He got into her car and told her to take him to Thompson Street, becoming increasingly abusive and threatening until she started driving out of fear.

Ms Beckman said Blackman threatened to find her if she told anyone what he had done, and was angry at her for slowing down when children were crossing the road.

After she dropped him off, Blackman stole another vehicle and was driving through Silkstone when police caught onto his tail.

They pursued him as he drove at high speeds, cutting off another car at one point, before driving onto the wrong side of the road and eventually crashing into a fence.

Ms Beckman said Blackman attempted to flee, but was arrested and found to be under the influence of methamphetamine.

He was further charged for offences preceding that day, including possessing and using stolen credit cards for more than $3000 of purchases, and breaking into and stealing from a museum.

Ms Beckman said Blackman’s offending demonstrated a “total lack of regard for safety of others” and “would have caused the complainants significant distress and fear”.

She said Blackman had a highly relevant criminal history, having committed 111 (now 113) burglary and enter premises offences over the course of his 26-year history.

Exterior picture of the Ipswich Court house Ipswich Friday 28th October 2022 Picture David Clark

Ms Beckman said a psychologist’s report indicated Blackman had talked about falling into a pattern where after spending around eight months back in the community, he would usually start wanting to return to custody.

“To some extent, he was committing these offences with the deliberate intention to return to custody,“ she said.

Defence barrister Kate Fuller said Blackman had struggled with mental health difficulties including PTSD, and said he still had the support of his family and potential job prospects.

Blackman had started using cannabis and heroin at a young age, and was able to stop using heroin – but then started using ice around age 41.

“I’m not prepared to give up on your rehabilitation at this point. I hope you’re not,” said Judge Lynch.

“No, I’m not,” Blackman responded over video-link.

Judge Lynch told him: “I’m sure no right-thinking person would want to simply see you locked up in jail, wasting your life. You’ve wasted a good portion of it; I urge you not to waste the rest of it.”

Blackman received a head sentence of four years imprisonment, to be suspended for a four year operational period from May 16, 2023.

Blackman was further sentenced to three years of probation and disqualified from obtaining or holding a drivers licence for two years, for both the dangerous operation and the evasion offence.

His presentence custody of 563 days was declared time-served, and all convictions were recorded.

The full list of charges Blackman pleaded guilty to included two counts of unlawfully entering a vehicle with intent to commit an indictable offence, burglary by break with violence while armed, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, deprivation of liberty, unlawfully using a motor vehicle to facilitate the commission of an indictable offence, dangerous operation of a vehicle, and possessing a dangerous drug (methamphetamine).

He further pleaded guilty to two counts of receiving tainted property, unlawful possession of suspected stolen property, six counts of fraud (dishonest application of property of another), evasion, enter premises and commit indictable offence by break, and failure to appear in accordance with an undertaking.