Abdul Wahab Khalifa sentenced for break-in, drug possession

The man, who was found by police passed out in a cool room earlier this year, has landed himself in court again.

A man who trashed a restaurant before passing out in the cool room during a boozy break-in breached his court order just ten days after being sentenced, a court has heard.

Coffs Harbour man Abdul Wahab Khalifa was re-sentenced on charges of break and enter and damaging property in Coffs Harbour Local Court this week.

He also faced sentencing on fresh charges of possessing a prohibited drug and resisting police.

The court heard that in March, a heavily intoxicated Khalifa pulled a ‘merge right’ traffic sign from a median strip and used it to smash the front window of a Coffs Coast restaurant.

He then ransacked the premises, grabbing the front register and smashing it onto the front pavement.

Officers later found Khalifa, who was in possession of some money, asleep in the cool room.

The man broke into a Coffs Coast restaurant earlier this year.

He faced Coffs Harbour Local Court for sentencing in May, and was convicted and sentenced to an 18-month community release order, as well as a two-year community corrections order with 200 hours of community service.

It was heard however that ten days after his sentencing, Khalifa breached the orders and was again arrested after he failed to provide details about himself to police. He was also found with cannabis.

In court on Monday, Khalifa’s solicitor informed Magistrate Ian Rodgers that Khalifa had since stopped drinking and had found employment.

Mr Rodgers took this into account but said the breach meant Khalifa would have to face a custodial term particularly due to the “serious” break and enter charges.

For the fresh charges of possessing cannabis and resisting police, he was convicted and fined $180 and $550.

For the charges of damage property and break and enter, the previous orders were revoked and Khalifa was sentenced to a community corrections order for 18 months and an intensive correction order for 9 months with 100 hours of community service.