Ashka Barry Croswell jailed after pleading guilty to stealing, possessing tainted property, fraud offences

A repeat offender facing multiple charges of stealing, fraud and drug possession, has been blasted by a magistrate, who told the 25-year-old ‘you’re not trying real hard’ to reform after facing court.

A magistrate has warned a repeat offender to “wake up to yourself” after he was caught reoffending just one month after he was released from jail after serving a stint behind bars for similar crimes.

With a history of dishonesty and drug offences, Ashka Barry Croswell faced Toowoomba Magistrates Court again on Tuesday charged with similar offences, including two counts of stealing, one count of attempted stealing, possessing tainted property, fraud, possessing dangerous drugs and five charges of possessing drug utensils.

The 25-year-old’s crime spree included the attempted theft of a torch from a BCF in North Ipswich on March 30, the use of a tainted property to commit fraud in Gatton on July 26 and the theft of a wallet in Gatton on July 29.

Police prosecutor Anita Page said Crosswell was also found in possession of cannabis on March 24, and was found to be the passenger in a stolen car in Leichhardt on February 6.

Crosswell’s solicitor Nathan Bouchier described his client’s upbringing as “unfortunate”, with Croswell describing both parents as drug users.

Educated to Year 8 the court was told Crosswell left home for the first time at 13, had been on a disability pension for mental health issues for a number of years and was illiterate

“He certainly has had a lot of challenges in his life,” Mr Bouchier said.

“Given his background it’s perhaps not surprising he developed a drug addiction as a teenager and that has led to his criminal history.”

Despite periods of imprisonment in his past magistrate Gary Finger said it was clear Croswell was failing to learn any lessons.

“What’s he done for himself … not much, apart from reoffend,” the magistrate said.

“I’ve taken into account that you finished parole in January this year, you've’ then continued to reoffend in effect since February 6 this year. You’ve spent periods of time in custody, you get out, you get back on drugs it seems and you go back to your errant ways.

“The court has to send a message to you that this will not be tolerated. You come before the courts now, for any of these types of offences, the only thing the court is going to do is send you to jail.

“Until you wake up for yourself, and do something for yourself, other than wait for the courts to do it for you, you’ll keep going back to prison. If that’s where you want to go we’ll send you there.

“Wake up to yourself, there’s no point sitting there crying about it.”

“I’m trying, Your Honour,” Crosswell said.

“Well you’re not trying real hard,” the magistrate replied.

Crosswell was jailed for nine months, with a parole release date set for December 5, 2022.

Originally published as Ashka Barry Croswell jailed after pleading guilty to stealing, possessing tainted property, fraud offences