Bryce Daniel Gary Doyle pleads guilty to 22 property offences

An “institutionalised” serial car thief with a 13-page criminal history will stay behind bars for at least another 12 months after which he dreams of the “good life” as a family man and barber.

A serial Mackay car thief will stay behind bars until at least September 2023 following a three-week crime rampage barely three months after his release from jail for similar offending.

Bryce Daniel Gary Doyle forced his way into homes and cars, stealing property and vehicles across the Mackay region, a court heard.

Crown prosecutor Elizabeth Kelso said his method caused damage to the property during his crime spree over August and September 2021, barely three months after his release from jail in May that year.

The 27-year-old father of two, who was described as being “institutionalised”, broke into cars parked at workshops and in private driveways – sometimes hiding his face but leaving behind fingerprints, DNA or being captured on CCTV cameras.

Mackay District Court heard he also stole items including tools, electronics, handbags, used someone else’s bank card eight times and repeatedly drove while disqualified.

“Concerningly he’s never held a licence, so he just should never be on the road,” Ms Kelso said.

Doyle, who has been in custody since September 2021, pleaded guilty to 22 offences.

Judge Ken Barlow said after looking over Doyle’s 13-page criminal history, “I wondered whether you actually preferred to live in custody rather than out in the community.”

The court heard Doyle still had 14 months to serve on a previous jail term for similar offending.

Defence barrister Scott Moon said an earlier relationship breakdown “sent him spiralling into the use of illicit drugs”, prompting the initial crime spree.

The court heard after his release from jail in May 2021 he lived with his dad and things were going well, but he turned to drugs again and was evicted from the home and “had nowhere to go” – he began offending again.

“He is somewhat institutionalised now having been in custody for a lengthy period of time,” Mr Moon said.

The court heard Doyle had two children including a 19-month-old and he was “missing those … young years of his child’s life … and it’s his own fault”.

He was working while in custody and had completed a certificate two in barbering. The court heard his current partner and mother of his youngest child visited him in jail, which was motivating him to do better.

Judge Barlow said Doyle needed to learn to take the “knocks in life” without turning to life.

“You know where you are at in your life, you know where you want to be and I understand that’s not to spend most of your life in jail,” Judge Barlow said.

The court heard Doyle had “prospects of having a good life”.

Doyle was jailed for five years with parole eligibility on September 7, 2023 and was disqualified from driving for four years.

About 11.5 months was declared as time already served. Convictions were recorded.