Rockhampton man Jeffrey Robert Harbord sentenced for stealing $24,000 worth of goods in crime spree

A Central Queensland man who stole $24,000 worth of jewellery and other goods in 2021 has been described by a judge as having a “dishonest, parasitic nature”. Read the full details of his offending here.

A thief who stole $20,000 worth of jewellery and $4000 in other goods in 2021 was described by a judge as having a “dishonest, parasitic nature”.

Jeffrey Robert Harbord, 35, had been sentenced in Rockhampton Magistrates Court in March 2022 for a crime spree between April and September 2021 including stealing $15,000 worth of diamond rings from one property, $5000 of jewellery from another and $4000 in other goods.

This offending breached a suspended sentence Harbord was handed in December 2020 in Rockhampton District Court.

He had received a sentence of three years and nine months prison, suspended after serving 12 months, with an operational period of four years and six months.

Last month, he was back before the district court for the breach where the court heard the facts of the magistrates court offences which included five counts of burglary and stealing, three of receiving tainted property, two of obstruct police, one of enter dwelling with intent by break, one of enter dwelling and commit indictable offence by break, one of stealing, and one of fraud which took place between April and September 2021.

Judge Jeff Clarke described Harbord’s rehabilitation efforts as being “more consistent with your dishonest, parasitic nature”.

The first offence Harbord committed was after his release in February 2021 when he stole $200 that had been left unintentionally at a pokie machine and a mobile phone on April 21, 2021.

Five months later, between July 10, 2021 and July 21, 2021, Harbord entered a home when the residents were out and took equipment and numerous cordless tools.

The first of the burglary and stealing involved Harbord taking $4000 worth of digital cameras on August 20, 2021 when he entered a residence.

He broke into a house by removing a fly screen from a window and stole a jewellery box with jewellery inside, money, and a 10-inch Laser tablet on September 1, 2021. The value of those items was unknown.

Harbord broke into a home and stole car keys, a gym bag, oils, and candles on September 12, 2021.

Then on September 14, 2021, Harbord broke into a residence and stole about $5000 worth of jewellery.

Two days later Harbord broke into a property and stole $15,000 worth of diamond rings on September 16, 2021.

On the same day he also committed the charge of enter dwelling with intent by break when he broke into a house and searched it without stealing any property.

Harbord was positively identified by police at all residences by his fingerprints.

When Harbord was arrested, he was found to have the stolen bank cards, identification cards, jewellery, and alcohol.

He took about $24,000 of goods, used the stolen bank cards to buy cigarettes, and resisted arrest.

The magistrates court sentence was three years in prison with a parole release on September 18, 2022 .

Defence barrister Maree Willey said her client, who was on probation at the time, was caring for his seven year old daughter for about two months from February 2021.

She said Harbord lost the accommodation he had when his daughter went back into the care of her mother.

Ms Willey said her client couch surfed and started using dangerous drugs again.

She said when he was eventually released, her client hoped to gain employment.

Judge Jeff Clarke sentenced Harbord to two years prison and ordered the suspended sentence be activated in full and served concurrently with Harbord’s present sentence.

Harbord’s parole release was set for January 18, 2023.