Andrew Leonard Vernon sentenced for bail crime spree

A former carpenter has learnt his fate in a Sunshine Coast court after committing a string of offences, including robbing a private school, while released in the community on bail.

Maroochydore Court House. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A Sunshine Coast man will remain behind bars after committing more than 20 offences, including stealing thousands of dollars from a school, while released on bail.

Andrew Leonard Vernon, 34, appeared on video link in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty to 22 charges involving fraud, stealing and property break-ins.

The court was told one incident involved Vernon stealing $4,000 from Padua College at the Ringtail Creek campus in October, 2023, followed a month later by stealing photographic material from a house in Cooran.

Vernon also pleaded guilty to four charges of disqualified driving, possessing a knife in public and possessing dangerous drugs.

Police prosecutor sergeant Nick Nitschke told the court Vernon had a relevant criminal history and described the offences as serious.

“Actual imprisonment is appropriate given his history, he is not a youthful offender,” Mr Nitschke.

Solicitor Marielle D’Souza told the court Vernon, who had worked as a carpenter in the past, struggled with drug addiction following the death of his grandmother.

“The majority of the offending he comes before the court for today was committed while he was on drugs,” Ms D’Souza said.

“He tells me he would like to engage in programs to assist his rehabilitation.”

Andrew Leonard Vernon. Picture: Facebook

While sentencing Vernon, Maroochydore Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist told the court the 34-year-old had committed a “vast number of offences” over a period of four months, while ignoring his curfew restrictions imposed in a previous sentence.

“You never stayed home, you were out every night, I’ve lost count of how many offences you have for breach of bail conditions,” Mr Stjernqvist said.

Mr Stjernqvist told the court Vernon had previously committed a string of similar offences, adding most of the sentencing remarks the 34-year-old “had probably heard before”.

“It can’t be said you have no prior convictions, it can’t be said you haven’t been previously imprisoned for these sort of offences,” Mr Stjernqvist.

Vernon was sentenced to 18 months’ behind bars and will be released on parole on May 9, 2024.

Mr Stjernqvist ordered Vernon be disqualified from driving for two years.