Piers Alexander Panochini sentenced for drug offences in Yeppoon

A Central Queensland man who has been in court for drug offending five times in the past couple of years has been told to ‘walk the straight and narrow’.

Piers Alexander Panochini faced Yeppoon Magistrates Court on November 30.

A man who entered the homes of people at Yeppoon and brazenly stole from them while they were there, has faced court.

Piers Alexander Panochini, 24, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on November 30 to two counts of entering a dwelling and stealing, and possessing cannabis.

Police prosecutor Corey O’Connor said about 1.30am on October 3, Panochini approached the rear of a man’s unit at Yeppoon, pushed the door open and went inside.

Mr O’Connor said Panochini asked to buy cannabis from the resident, who was prescribed medicinal cannabis.

The prosecutor said Panochini’s request was refused and he then picked up the resident’s container of medicinal cannabis and left with it.

Piers Alexander Panochini.

In court, the prosecution sought restitution of $110.

In relation to the second charge, the court heard that about 10am on October 5, Panochini approached the rear of a different man’s unit at Yeppoon, went inside and stole the resident’s mobile phone from his bedroom while he was in bed.

Mr O’Connor said the victim tracked his mobile phone and went to a residence in Yeppoon where he spoke to Panochini’s girlfriend.

“(She) stated (Panochini) was trying to sell the (victim’s) mobile phone,” Mr O’Connor said.

When police tracked down Panochini, he told them he had thrown the mobile phone in a drain.

Police went to that location and found the phone in the drain, with a smashed screen in water about 2m deep.

Mr O’Connor said Panochini told officers he stole the phone because someone had pressured him to do it.

The prosecution sought restitution of $2000 for the phone.

Finally, the court heard that on October 13, police found Panochini in possession of a clip-seal bag containing 1g of cannabis.

A self-represented Panochini told acting Magistrate Stephen Byrne that he had been struggling with his mental health and the offending was not something he would do again.

Mr Byrne noted that since March 2021, Panochini had been in court five times for drug offending.

Mr Byrne sentenced Panochini to four months’ jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of 12 months.

“So it’s going to hang over your head for 12 months ... so that’s going to motivate you to walk the straight and narrow,” Mr Byrne said.

Panochini was ordered to pay the full amount of restitution.

Convictions were recorded.