Eagleby man Harley Robert Earl, 20, brags about break-ins, vehicle theft and drug abuse online

A court has heard a man who broke into numerous houses with a gang of “grubs” was so high on drugs he had little recollection of the offending despite bragging about his conquests on social media.

A 20-year-old man whose “supernova” of drug-driven offending included a break-in with four gang members at a house where a baby was present, bragged about his criminal prowess on social media, a court heard.

Harley Robert Earl of Eagleby will likely remain locked up until at least January after he was sentenced to two years’ jail with immediate parole granted for his “brazen offending”. According to the courts because of a Covid-19-related administrative lag thousands of prisoners seeking parole currently can wait up to eight months for release

Appearing at Cleveland Magistrates Court on July 28 via video link from custody, Earl was supported at court by his mother.

The court heard Earl had little recall of his wide ranging offending that included breaking into multiple homes, stealing and driving in multiple vehicles, a smash-and-grab at a jewellers and an attempted fraud across the Brisbane and Gold Coast region from July last year until January.

Harley Robert Earl was sentenced to two years' prison with immediate parole for stealing vehicles and breaking into houses. Picture: Facebook

He pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a vehicle; entering a premises and committing an indictable offence; entering a premises with intent; unlawfully using a vehicle which was used for an indictable offence; stealing; attempted fraud and more.

The court heard Earl on January 17 broke into a Wellington Point home with four other gang members and stole a wallet and a Hyundai.

A resident woken at around 1am by her crying baby noticed the vehicle missing and would see five individuals moving through her home when she reviewed CCTV footage in the aftermath.

The defendant tried to pay for fuel with a stolen credit card at Surfers Paradise later on January 17 but was foiled when the card was declined.

The prosecution said Earl was captured on CCTV as he and a gang of others reversed a stolen BMW up to Wynnum Plaza at around 3.50am on January 22 and smashed through a window with a sledgehammer.

Officers discovered a trail of jewellery scattered throughout the shopping centre after the gang raided “seven to eight” cabinets for a large haul of valuables.

Police would find social media imagery of Earl wearing the exact clothes and face covering donned during the raid.

And on January 9, the court heard, Earl admitted to police to driving on multiple occasions in a black Mercedes stolen in Rochedale on August 23.

Still images from social media posts featured Earl posing with the vehicle which had been dressed up in fake number plates.

Harley Earl posts imagery of cash, a knife and a sneaker on his Facebook page. Picture: Facebook

The prosecution was adamant that “the community must be protected” from Earl who was on parole for similar offending for all his crimes.

Having had the benefit of probation and suspended jail sentences, Earl’s offending was described as brazen by the prosecution, who noted he had reoffended within two days after a release form lockup in the past.

Defence solicitor David Gilmore said his client suffered from ADHD, mild autism and learning difficulties and had taken up the use of illegal drugs at 13 after the divorce of his parents.

“He hardly has the intellectual ability to be a leader of the group, for what it is worth,” Mr Gilmore said.

Having spent the past six months in custody Earl had dried out in prison and realised the glorification of his criminal deeds and drug taking must come to an end, according to the defence.

Earl’s mother, a NSW nurse, could not hide her distress as she cried at court.

A letter by her tendered to the court described how her son was a “completely different person” when clean of drugs.

Acknowledging the defendant’s health challenges, Magistrate Zachary Sarra noted no one had forced drugs down the man’s throat.

Mr Sarra denounced Earl’s wanton display of his crimes on social media and quoted a Chief Judge when he said having little recall of his actions was not a mitigating factor.

“Amnesia is the refuge of scoundrels,” Magistrate Sarra said.

“Stay away from drugs and grubs.”

The magistrate said at heart Earl’s “very serious” offending caused distress in the community where residents’ rights were destroyed by its invasive nature.

The court heard due to Covid-19-related administrative lag, thousands of prisoners seeking parole currently had to wait six to eight months for release.

Earl was sentenced to two years’ prison with immediate parole.