One-time notorious youth gangster walks free for ‘brazen’ crime spree
A one-time member of the notorious Northside Gang has walked free from court after pleading guilty to breaking into houses and stealing luxury cars and a $20,000 Rolex watch, with a court told of his method when targeting homes.
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A one-time member of a notorious youth crime gang has walked free from court after pleading guilty to breaking into multiple houses and stealing luxury cars, a $20,000 Rolex watch and jewellery during a “brazen” month-long crime spree.
Ashley Ryan Blake Rongonui, 22, from Strathpine, was in the District Court in Brisbane on Friday where he pleaded guilty to 16 charges related to stealing items during break-ins at houses or unlocked cars in Brisbane’s northern suburbs.
Judge Michael Burnett sentenced Rongonui, a former “Northside Gang” member, to immediate release on parole with supervision for two years and nine months for the crimes in Wilston, Griffin, Murrumba Downs, Albany Creek and Fitzgibbon.
He has served 375 days in custody already.
In early December 2021, Rongonui took a ride in a car which he knew to be stolen, then he also drove the car himself, later on December 7 he and a mate used the car to break into a house in Wilston where they stole a Rolex watch worth at least $20,000 together with a key for an Audi car, the court heard.
Crown prosecutor Jane Shaw told the court that Rongonui promised to return the Rolex that “was with a family member”, but it has not been recovered.
Rongonui was arrested for these crimes and released on bail then returned to stealing more cars and breaking into more homes, the court heard.
He travelled in another stolen car and broke into a home at Murrumba Downs by ramming the stolen car into the garage door.
When the owner arrived home he fled in their electric car, and later that night he kicked-in the door in of a home at Albany Creek stealing a Subaru, jewellery and an Apple laptop computer.
Between December 16 and 17, 2021 he stole items from unlocked cars in driveways and streets in Brisbane’s northern suburbs, including $1500 worth of tools from a fridge-mechanic’s work ute, Apple AirPods from a Mazda in Griffin, sunglasses from a Ford SUV and a wallet from a Skoda parked in a driveway.
Ms Shaw submitted that the risks of Rongonui’s offending were “obvious because of the violent confrontations that can arise when properly owners seek to defend their property”.
She said his crimes had caused loss, inconvenience and distress to multiple innocent victims.
“This is serious brazen offending by a young offender and quickly he is turning into a recidivist offender,” Ms Shaw told the court.
Ms Shaw told the court that Rongonui was banned from contacting members of the “northside gang” when he was released on parole on May 5, 2020, with an electronic ankle bracelet and a curfew.
The gang has wreaked havoc across southeast Queensland, breaking into homes and stealing cars, and boasting about their crimes on social media.
After his arrest Rongonui told police that he would scope out houses at night, choosing those with their lights turned off.
He would knock on the front door, and if no-one answered would break-in, but if someone answered the door he would make an excuse and leave.
Rongonui pleaded guilty to two counts of illegally entering a house, one count of illegally entering a house at night in company and damaging property, eight counts of entering premises and committing a crime, one count of receiving tainted property and three counts of car theft, and one count of stealing a car and using it to commit a crime.
His lawyer submitted the Rongonui had been using the drug ice since he was 15 years old and had been living on the streets as his family banned him from taking drugs at home.
He was remorseful and planned to quit using ice to care for his older brother who has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair.
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