Clinton William Woodbridge pleads guilty in Warwick Magistrates Court to wild crime spree

Warwick man Clinton Woodbridge has been jailed for a crime spree that terrorised businesses and residences across the Rose City. Read how he went from being a promising footy stay to leading a life of crime.

A talented former rugby league player has pleaded guilty to a crime spree where innocent businesses, emergency responders and residents around the Rose City were mercilessly targeted.

Warwick man Clinton William Woodbridge appeared by videolink in Warwick Magistrates Court on Wednesday, September 20, and pleaded guilty to 12 from January and February this year, including five charges of break, enter and steal, four charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and one charge each of dangerous operation of a vehicle, unlicensed driving and burglary.

CRIME SPREE

The 33-year-old began his spree on January 21, 2023, targeting a Morgan Park business and Clifton Golf Club, where he stole $1400 worth of alcohol.

Days later the former meat worker broke into a property at Rosenthal Heights, stealing several appliances including a TV and washing machine.

Woodbridge stole an emergency services vehicle from Wildash Rural Fire Brigade, which was later found crashed off a road with significant damage.

The ex-footy player then targeted a Warwick car wash, taking $15,000 from a safe. Woodbridge’s time was running out.

Police spotted him driving a stolen LandCruiser doing 89km/h in a 60km/h zone, where Woodbridge drove directly at the police vehicle, ramming into it before driving off.

INSIDE AN ADDICT

Defence lawyer Nathan Bouchier told the court the Goondiwindi-born, Warwick-raised man suffered from anxiety after being assaulted as a teenager.

The “talented rugby league player” began “drinking heavily and lost track of himself”, Mr Bouchier said.

“He was involved in drinking and fighting, and his history relates to offences of violence and serious matters.”

Mr Bouchier said the father of six served three years of a six-year sentence starting in 2009, following an incident, and after becoming “addicted to meth” it led to another imprisonment spell.

AFTERMATH

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess said the matters were “very serious” and said there was an amount of violence in Woodbridge’s history.

“The crimes caused a significant loss to the community,” Ms Sturgess said to Woodbridge as he sat behind bars, appearing via videolink.

“Meth addiction is to blame - you really lost track. You have a significant history of violence and you have done some quite lengthy imprisonment orders as a result.

“It’s disappointing that in such a short amount of time you committed such a number of very serious offences.

“The summary of offences show a significant loss to the victims and community and a member of the police force who was just doing his duty.”

Woodbridge was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, and will be eligible for parole on November 30.