Oscar Frederick Wynn Brown, 20, breaks into homes across Brisbane to steal vehicles for drug habit

A court has heard a 20-year-old Xanax addict fuelled his habit by breaking into homes to steal vehicles, one of which he crashed into commuters while drunk with no headlights on.

A 20-year-old Xanax addict who racked up 26 charges has been granted immediate parole.

His crime spree included breaking into multiple homes, evading police in stolen vehicles and bolting from a high-speed crash scene only to spit on an officer during the arrest.

With 103 days’ pre-sentence custody behind him today at Beenleigh Magistrates Court, Oscar Frederick Wynn Brown pleaded guilty to multiple counts of entering premises to commit an indictable offence, multiple counts of entering premises with intent, numerous evasion offences, trespass, driving while under the influence and dangerous operation of a vehicle.

The charges also included a serious assault of police by spitting and unlawful use of motor vehicle.

The court heard much of the offending took place while on “his drug of choice”; was driven by a need for cash to buy more drugs and took place between September 18 and April 10.

On January 14 – 15 the former painter’s apprentice broke into homes in Everton Park where he stole vehicle keys, was found in possession of Xanax, drove a stolen vehicle and evaded police.

On January 21 he caused a public nuisance at the North Ipswich Guzman y Gomez restaurant and wilfully damaged a vehicle door, the court was told.

On February 10 he broke into multiple Hendra homes and would “purposely gather mucus in his mouth to spit at a police officer” hitting him on the leg, all the while “abusing officers with expletives”.

Oscar Frederick Wynn Brown, 20, pleaded guilty to 26 charges.

And on April 10 Brown broke into numerous homes in Tingalpa, stole a fishing pole and was found in possession of prescription drugs, for which he had none.

But of most concern, according to the prosecution, was his dangerous operation of a vehicle on September 18.

The court heard a highly intoxicated Brown had no headlights on when he raced away from police on multiple occasions in wet weather at Ormeau and Yatala, only to collide with two vehicles.

With no regard to others affected Brown bolted across guardrails to escape, according to Magistrate Cameron McKenzie.

The offending came on the back of a “quite significant” criminal history which included two probation orders for “mostly drug offending”.

Brown’s defence solicitor said his client’s drug of choice was Xanax, for the procurement of which he stole vehicles.

With half a painter’s apprenticeship under his belt Brown was said by the defence to have dried out in custody where he “matured significantly” under onerous circumstances defined by 20-hour lockdowns in a one person cell, shared with another prisoner.

A letter was provided to the court by the defendant’s mother speaking of his significant changes undergone while in custody.

While acknowledging Brown’s embarrassment at being in jail Magistrate McKenzie denounced him for his “quite brazen” and “confronting” break-ins into homes.

Brown was sentenced to 18 months’ prison with immediate parole.

He was further ordered to pay $500 in compensation to the officer he spat on and was fined $200.

Convictions were recorded.