Tony Lee Danzey: Man sentenced to jail in Warwick court over months-long crime spree

A man has fronted the Warwick court over a months-long crime spree that included setting up a brazen theft with a fake emergency call and racking up hundreds of dollars on another person’s credit card.

A man who lured police away from the service station he was about to steal from with a false call to emergency services has narrowly avoided time behind bars.

Tony Lee Danzey first attracted police attention when he was busted carrying a bank card believed to be tainted property and a hypodermic needle and syringe in Toowoomba on February 10, 2020.

Warwick Magistrates Court heard the 43-year-old did not make any purchases with the debit card on this first occasion, but it was only weeks later that he racked up $260 at Toowoomba’s Grand Central Shopping Centre with a different credit card belonging to Heritage Bank.

Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa said Danzey’s biggest spend was $199.96 at Rebel Sports, with other minor expenses including $24.50 at Big W and $4.50 at McDonald’s.

He said there was no evidence Danzey had stolen the card, but it was clear the man knew he should not have been using it.

Danzey’s crime spree continued on April 12 the same year when he entered the Metro Petroleum service station in Stanthorpe, stealing tobacco and foodstuffs including chips and confectionery.

Sergeant de Lissa said Danzey struck again less than two weeks later on April 25, this time targeting the Woolworths Caltex Stanthorpe petrol station.

“He’s created a diversion by using the emergency (triple-0) number so he can make sure there are no police nearby when he enters the service station,” he said.

Danzey made off with cigarettes and other tobacco products worth $166.

“The enter and commit (an indictable offence) charges are due to his history, they’ve created that offence. It’s not a burglary or break-and-enter type of offence,” Sergeant de Lissa said.

The former Stanthorpe man also breached bail 12 times between May and July in 2020, and failed to appear at the Toowoomba police station and court as required within the total span of his crime spree.

Danzey appeared in the Warwick court via videolink from jail, where he had spent 74 days in custody prior to being sentenced.

Defence lawyer Amber Acreman said her client’s offending was unsophisticated and a less serious example of each charge.

She said Danzey had no significant mental health issues and drug use did not factor heavily into his crime spree, with his criminal history including armed robbery being the most aggravating aspect.

“He went to New South Wales to assist his daughter, and was then caught by virtue of the border provisions (in breaching bail),” Ms Acreman said.

“The time in custody has been particularly difficult for him given the Covid restrictions, and a lot of the inmates have spent extended periods of time in custody.”

Danzey pleaded guilty to two counts of entering premises and committing an indictable offence, four counts of fraud, and one count each of improper use of an emergency call service and possessing or receiving tainted property.

He also pleaded guilty to 12 counts of breaching bail and another one each of failing to dispose of a syringe, failing to appear, and contravening a police requirement.

Danzey was sentenced to six months’ jail with immediate release on parole. He was not ordered to pay any restitution.