Child sex offender Thomas Patrick Enright evicted from Slade Point home

A convicted child sex offender faced up to $40,000 in fines after he was evicted from his home for not paying rent. But it was only the beginning of the meth user’s money problems.

A child sex offender found himself in a new realm of trouble after his latest series of law-breaking had him facing up to $40,000 in fines.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard Thomas Patrick Enright racked up new dishonesty offences, stealing twice from Mackay businesses in his latest crime spree.

Enright, 37, filled up almost $70 worth of fuel in Mount Pleasant before driving away without paying.

He later told police he had “intended to pay for the fuel when he had sufficient money to do so”, but never did.

A warrant for Enright’s arrest was issued after he failed to appear in court on December 6.

Enright, on a separate occasion, similarly filled his car with $75 of fuel at a Paget service station, but claimed he had simply “driven away and forgotten to pay”.

A warrant for Enright’s arrest was issued after he failed to appear in court on December 6.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Linden Pollard told the court Enright was a child sex offender and was bound to comply with the obligations, including advising police of any change in personal details, including a home address.

Sergeant Pollard said police went to Enright’s Slade Point home later that day to investigate a potential child contact but found he had been evicted that morning for not paying rent.

Thomas Patrick Enright pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court on January 31 to stealing, breaching bail and breaching police conditions. Picture: Facebook

The court heard Enright did not tell police where he could be found within the mandatory seven days.

Later on January 28, police pulled over a car for a random breath test on Nebo Rd and found Enright in the passenger seat.

The court heard police searched Enright and found 0.419 grams of methamphetamine in his wallet and a syringe in his pocket.

Enright told police he had “used the syringe earlier to take gear”.

He pleaded guilty to stealing, possessing drugs, failing to appear and breaching reporting conditions.

Solicitor Ancilla Seethya told the court her client had lined up work as a labourer in Midge Point.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer said Enright could pay up to $40,000 in fines for not informing police of his new address.

“You had money for drugs but not for rent, you need to get your priorities right,” Mr Dwyer said.

Enright was jailed for three months with immediate parole. He was fined $3000 and ordered to pay $145.63 restitution.