Jack Timothy Noel Wright, 24, avoids actual jail for massive damage and theft spree

“Just a big, fat nuisance”: A 24-year-old man whose theft spree left a string of businesses nearly $40k worse off has walked free with less than 5 per cent in restitution to pay.

A concreter who broke into a string of businesses and stole more than $37,000 in catalytic converters has avoided actual imprisonment and much of the restitution owed.

Appearing at Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Friday (June 24) Jack Timothy Noel Wright, 24, of Redbank Plains pleaded guilty to 12 charges.

They included four counts of entering a premises and committing an indictable offence by break-in, four counts of wilful damage, four counts of stealing and a single count of entering a premises and committing an indictable offence.

The court heard a then 23-year-old Wright broke into a string of mechanic shops that included a Coles business in Sunnybank Hills, Rock Industries in Loganholme and a business in Heathwood between May 13 to 22, 2021.

He damaged multiple vehicles by removing and stealing catalytic converters.

His damage and theft totalled $37,392 in costs with not all the businesses insured, the court was told.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Donna Kay admitted she did not know the exact purpose of the devices, but was instructed they are very expensive to replace and easily sold on.

Sgt Kay noted the offending was aggravated for occurring after a previous like offence in 2019 for which the defendant received unpaid community service.

Due to Wright’s “planned” and “sophisticated” offending, the prosecution urged a two-and-a-half to three-year prison sentence with one-third to be served before parole release.

Full restitution to the affected businesses and their insurers was sought by Sgt Kay.

Defence solicitor Katherine Hanson said her client worked as a concreter and did not dispute the facts of his offending “whatsoever”.

However, the defence submitted that Wright had used the stolen goods as scrap-metal and that there was no evidence he had gained significant funds from his theft.

The court heard the former Department of Transport and Main Roads employee had been “financially desperate” at the time following eight months of lost work due to a broken arm and his father’s poor health.

Ms Hanson said her client viewed his arrest for the offending “as a blessing in disguise” during a period where his life had “spiralled out of control”.

The court heard Wright had been charged with no other offences since.

Magistrate Pamela Dowse denounced Wright’s “really awful offending” as “stupid in the extreme”.

She noted it caused significant inconvenience to the victims.

However, Ms Dowse rejected the crimes as sophisticated, noting Wright was easily identified from fingerprints and CCTV evidence.

“Just a big, fat nuisance is what you are,” Ms Dowse said.

Wright was sentenced to two years’ prison with immediate parole release granted.

He was further ordered to pay $1,685 in restitution to the single victim who was uninsured.

Convictions were recorded.