Christopher Lucas Mitchell, 38, racks up 250 convictions

A recidivist offender who has a 20-page criminal record with 250 convictions including 80 for burglary and 17 for unlawful use of a motor vehicle claims he has been institutionalised.

A recidivist offender who has a 20-page criminal record with 250 convictions including 80 for burglary and 17 for unlawful use of a motor vehicle claims he has been institutionalised.

Christopher Lucas Mitchell, 38, has spent most of his adult life in prison and has racked up his extensive criminal record during the short bursts of freedom he is given when out in the community.

Defence barrister Scott Moon said his client steals to pay for alcohol, prostitutes, food and accommodation.

It is only when authorities relaxed the rules for Mitchell that he goes straight back to offending.

Mitchell pleaded guilty in Rockhampton District Court on August 6 to 28 charges including five burglaries, 13 counts of fraud and two of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He had spent 546 days in custody prior to sentence.

Crown prosecutor Matthew Sutton said most of the offending this time occurred within three months after he was released on parole.

He said the offending started in January 2020 and only came to an end when Mitchell was arrested on February 5, 2020.

During this crime spree, Mitchell broke into five homes, stealing jewellery, electronics, credit cards, keys to a Mustang which was left at Allenstown Plaza two days later, along with keys to a I200 Lexus.

File image of artists impression of the Allenstown Plaza refurbishment.

Tyres damaged after Mitchell broke into Lawrence Motors and jacked up a car, were worth $1500.

He stole a backpack from outside a motel the next day and used the credit cards to buy White Ox tobacco, gift cards and phone credit.

Mitchell entered a woman’s house in North Rockhampton during the afternoon of January 17, 2020, and stole her purse.

He also stole $200 and credit cards in a wallet he took from the Discovery Holiday Park.

The jewellery stolen included an 18 carat gold ring, a nine carat gold ring, a man’s gold wedding ring, watch and a necklace.

Mitchell also stole a PS4 gaming console and games, along with a laptop.

He used the credit cards to purchase food and cigarettes.

The court heard the Mustang was recovered the day it was stolen.

Judge Jeff Clarke indicated he had been a victim of a stolen car.

“I know from personal experience you don’t get them back straight away,” he said.

“It’s impossible to get rid of the fingerprint dust.”

He is not the first high profile Rockhampton resident to be the victim of car thieves.

Former Rockhampton MP Robert Schwarten had two Lexus vehicles stolen from his home by an opportunistic thief in November 2019.

Judge Clarke said he was going off what he had been told before that cars may be physically recovered but not returned to their owners for some time due to the time to do forensic examinations and fix damage.

Mr Moon said there was no damage alleged by his client in these cases.

He said his client, who had four siblings, had a disadvantaged childhood.

“(His mother) would flog them a lot,” he said.

Mr Moon said Mitchell left home when he was 13 years old and left school when he was in year four.

“He can read and write, but not very well,” he said.

“He considers himself institutionalised to some extent.

“He finds it difficult to lead a normal life and not return to his old ways at times out in the community without support.”

Mr Moon said part of the problem he was placed in hostels when he is released on parole, surrounded by other offenders and he turns to drinking alcohol, steals to pay for alcohol, food, accommodation “and sometimes sex workers”.

He said Mitchell comes out of custody with good intentions, but has no support – not from family or friends – in the community.

Mr Moon said once parole conditions relaxes, he reverts to his old ways.

He said Mitchell had no employment history, has no children and not had any romantic relationships.

Mitchell had been sentenced by the district court three times in the past including convictions for burglaries, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing in 2008; and eight burglaries along with other offences in 2018 where he was sentenced to four years and 10 months prison.

Judge Clarke sentenced him to four years prison to run concurrent with other sentences Mitchell was serving, decline to declare presentence custody and gave him immediate parole eligibility.