Gavin Owen Williams pleads guilty to destructive ram raid at Mackay tobacconist

A tattooed serial thief who was behind a destructive ram raid and smashed into another business with a sledgehammer wants to turn over a new leaf.

Gavin Owen Williams pleaded guilty to 11 charges including a destructive ram raid in Mackay.

A serial thief, who tried to disguise himself with makeup and a wig to avoid detection while stealing from major retailers and was behind a destructive tobacco shop ram raid wants to change his ways.

At 42 years old Gavin Owen Williams is sick of being in and out of custody – or so his lawyer told Mackay Magistrates Court on Friday when he pleaded guilty to 11 charges.

His latest crime spree played out between October 20 and December 17, 2023 and involved offending after he had been released on bail for charges including a destructive Halloween ram raid at the tobacconist at the Gasworks Shopping Centre on Shakespeare St on October 31.

The court heard about 2am he was captured on CCTV using a white dual cab ute to smash through a glass panel and security screen, and stealing a large amount of cigarettes.

Williams was granted bail in early December and on the 17th of that month he smashed through the glass panel at another tobacconist using a sledgehammer and stolen smokes.

He also used makeup and a wig to try and conceal his identity when he went into Bunnings and Anaconda to steal a power station, power tools and a cooler.

Gavin Owen Williams is charged with a ram raid and a string of thefts across Mackay.

Williams has a very distinctive tattoo running down the left side of his face.

Magistrate Michelle Howard accepted the pleas were early and timely, labelling the destructive tobacconist break and enters as the most serious of all the offending.

“Given your criminal history deterrence looms large,” Ms Howard said.

“Your offending is a consequence of your drug related addiction.”

His drug addiction began at age 13 and by 15 he was using methylamphetamines – he had also previously spent time in jail for break and enter, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing charges, the court heard.

Ms Howard accepted submissions Williams “now wishes to live a different kind of life”.

“It is not going to be an easy task of course to abstain from drug use,” Ms Howard said.

“But it seems that you have realised at 42 that you don’t want to continue to be spending time in custody.

“So you are very motivated essentially to engage in rehabilitation and that is to your credit.”

The court heard Williams wanted to reengage with Lives Lived Well, but had not be able to complete any course while on remand in custody.

He was jailed for 18 months with parole release on June 16, 2024 with 137 days in pre sentence custody declared as time already served. He was also banned from driving for two years for disqualified driving and convictions were recorded.