Jayden McDougall: Ice-addict jailed for three-day, $40,000 spree

A Brisbane man has been jailed for three years for offences including robbery, arson, and carjacking with a machete during a three-day crime spree.

A young Brisbane meth-addict with a lengthy criminal history despite his age has been sentenced for a three-day crime spree featuring 26 offences which caused $40,000 worth of damage.

Notable crimes committed by Wacol man Jayden McDougall, 22, included carjacking a vehicle using a machete, torching a stolen car, evading police at high-speed three times, and resisting arrest, Brisbane District Court heard on Monday.

McDougall, who the court heard had lived an itinerant life since his high-schooling at Bribie Island, living at addresses in Wynnum and Camira, in between a lengthy period in custody in 2019–20, was on a suspended sentence and probation at the time of the current offending.

All up, McDougall pleaded guilty to 26 offences, including robbery with personal violence, arson of a vehicle, burglary, three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, three charges of evading police, stealing a motor vehicle, instructing police, possessing methamphetamine and multiple driving offences, inter alia.

Wacol man Jayden McDougall, 22. Picture: Facebook

But for the theft of a pair of sunglasses, which occurred on February 19 last year, all his offences occurred over a three-day period between March 26-28 last year.

The offences occurred at addresses across Brisbane, Logan and the Redlands, with suburbs targeted including Wellington Point, Crestmead and Redland Bay, causing approximately $40,000 damage.

Among other offending, he carjacked a person at a service station using a machete; stole a handbag from a cafe, then used the keys to steal a vehicle at the person’s address; set fire to a stolen car; and physically dragged a person from their vehicle to steal it.

McDougall was ultimately arrested in a Brisbane CBD hotel room on the evening of March 28, resisting arrest and being found with a small amount of methamphetamine.

He was not interviewed due to his level of intoxication, the court heard.

He has spent the intervening period remanded in pre-sentence custody.

Defence counsel Kim Bryson told the court her client had addiction issues and suffered a “prejudicial” upbringing due to his parents’ separation at age three and abuse at the hands of his violent, alcoholic father.

He would reside with his partner at Mudgeeraba upon his release, Ms Bryson told the court, and had aspirations to work as a cook/kitchen-hand.

Judge Ian Dearden sentenced McDougall to three years’ imprisonment with parole release on July 27 after he will have served 16 months.

He was also disqualified from driving for at least two years.