Jack Biddle sentenced for serious criminal trespass and theft

A young man fuelled by Xanax has learnt his fate after a terrified homeowner found him breaking into her house in the middle of the night.

A young man who was fuelled by Xanax has learnt his fate for breaking into the home of a stranger in a “spur-of-the-moment” decision.

Jack Biddle, 21, avoided jail after he left a woman feeling terrified when she awoke to see him in her house.

During sentencing, the District Court heard the victim was asleep in her Blakeview home on December 28, 2022.

The victim heard her cats growling outside and got up to investigate.

After walking into the living room she saw Biddle leaving her home through the sliding door into her backyard.

Jack Biddle was sentenced for serious criminal trespass and theft. Photo: Facebook

The victim found the metal flyscreen on her front door had been cut and bent inwards.

She called the police who located Biddle near the home with a stolen phone charger.

In her victim impact statement the victim said when she saw Biddle in her home at 4.40am she was in disbelief.

“She had regarded her home as her sanctuary and safe place,” Judge Nick Alexandrides said.

“She felt terrified and no longer feels safe.”

The court heard the victim slept with the light on for a long time after the offending and spent $20,000 from her superannuation funds to improve the security of her home.

Biddle, of Hewett, pleaded guilty to serious criminal trespass and theft.

During sentencing submissions, Chris Pouras for Biddle, told the court his client had been visiting a friend earlier in the evening and the offending was “opportunistic” and a “spur-of-the-moment” decision.

“On the night of the offending he was heavily intoxicated by having consumed somewhere between five to 10 Xanax tablets over the course of the day,” he said.

The court heard Biddle, who worked full time at a roof plumbing business, began taking drugs, including cocaine and cannabis, at 16.

“Mr Biddle’s consumption of illicit substances escalated around May 2020 after the death of his best friend in a motorcycle accident,” Mr Pouras said.

Biddle was sentenced to 18 months jail, with a non-parole period of five months.

“Members of the public, innocent householders, are all too frequently victims of intruders,” Judge Alexandrides said.

“The mere presence of strangers, with criminal intentions in one’s home creates a risk and it causes fear.”

Due to Biddle’s youth and limited criminal history, the sentence was suspended on a two-year, $100 good behaviour bond.

Originally published as Jack Biddle sentenced for serious criminal trespass and theft