Ingham court: Jarred Deal pleads guilty to Townsville restaurant burglary

A formerly homeless Townsville teen has been charged with multiple serious offences that include burglarising a well-known restaurant and stealing employee tips.

Jarred William Grahme Deal outside the Ingham Magistrates on July 27, 2023. Picture: Cameron Bates

A formerly homeless Townsville teen charged with multiple serious offences that included burglarising a well-known restaurant and stealing employee tips is now “on the right track”, a North Queensland court was told.

Jarred William Grahme Deal, 20, now residing in Ingham, pleaded guilty in a bulk arraignment to 11 charges, including four counts of entering a premises and committing an indictable offence, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

The other charges included entering a premises with intent, possess by night instruments of house breaking, namely bolt cutters, a torch and gloves, possession of a knife in a public place and possessing tainted property.

The remaining charges were possessing dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia as well as failing to appear.

Queensland Police Service Prosecutor Stacey Bain, reading a lengthy statement of facts, said Deal broke into The Balcony Restaurant in Flinders Street in May last year, stealing $300 from the till, $80 in a tip jar and a laptop computer worth more than $1000.

Jarred William Grahme Deal outside the Ingham Magistrates on July 27, 2023. Picture: Cameron Bates

She said Deal’s fingerprints were later found at the crime scene.

Ms Bain said the defendant also attempted to gain access to a number of cars in a car park before finding an unlocked Mercedes Benz and stealing two pairs of prescription sunglasses worth $350.

She said the crime was captured on CCTV and Deal was easily recognisable.

Ms Bain said that on September 18, Deal and a co-offender broke into a garage and made off with two mountain bikes but was spotted by an eagle-eyed taxi driver.

She said the bikes were later recovered.

Defence lawyer Phil Rennick of Townsville-based Rennick lawyers said his client had had a difficult upbringing in Townsville and had stopped taking his medication for depression when he became homeless.

Ingham Magistrates Court and Ingham Police Station on Palm Terrace on the Bruce Highway on Thursday. Picture: Cameron Bates

“These offences were committed whilst he was homeless and roaming the streets of Townsville and he was very young at that time, between 18 and 19 years of age,”

Mr Rennick said his client found stable accommodation in Ingham in January this year and had not reoffended.

“It would seem, except for the drug offences in February this year he hasn’t reoffended in a number of months … so it looks like he’s on the right track.”

He also noted that his client had not targeted people’s homes.

He agreed with Ms Bain’s recommended sentence of probation and asked that no convictions be recorded against Deal.

Magistrate Susan Warrington said the charges were serious but “it does seem you have been making some better choices since this offending”.

She also noted that Deal had no prior convictions, was still young, had been going through a tough time when the crimes occurred, had taken responsibility for his actions, was seeking employment and had good prospects of rehabilitation.

Deal was sentenced to 12 months’ probation to undergo rehabilitation programs as directed, fined $500 on the drug charges and ordered to pay $754 restitution to the restaurant (half the amount taken) and $350 restitution for the glasses.

No convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Ingham court: Jarred Deal pleads guilty to Townsville restaurant burglary