Nicholas Kevin Varela: Hornsby concreter sentenced over Wategos break in

A man has been caught after breaking into a home in an exclusive beachside area of Byron Bay in a desperate bid to fuel his desire for drugs.

A man who broke into a security guarded home ruined the “sanctuary” of a luxe Byron Bay community, a Byron Bay magistrate has said.

Hornsby concreter Nicholas Kevin Varela, 40, was convicted in Byron Bay Local Court on Monday as he pleaded guilty for an aggravated break and enter in company.

The court heard Varela was plagued by drug and alcohol addiction when he and co-accused broke into a section of a Wategos home on the afternoon of November 1, 2020.

Varela went to the Brownell Dr four-storey home, which was being leased out, in broad daylight about 3.40pm.

He and another person jumped over a gate and entered a room, Magistrate Karen Stafford told the court.

She said Varela somehow evaded the grasps of a 24/7 security guard who protects the property, CCTV footage and entered a room full of electronic equipment, secured with a slide bolt and padlock.

Varela forced the door open by pushing backward, court documents reveal.

His movement eventually alerted next door neighbours to the break and enter and Varela drove along Pandanus Lne before before crashing into a concrete boundary fence, causing the front left headlight to smash.

“You knew exactly what you were doing,” Magistrate Stafford said.

“You were there to get drugs or break in and do a drug rip off.”

Solicitor Kylie Anderson Clarke said Varela was now sober and had reintegrated himself into his church community and family.

“He’s now done everything he can to improve his situation and get himself back on track,” she said.

Ms Anderson Clarke said Varela’s seven-day stint in custody when first arrested was a wake up call.

“Really that was the most horrible experience and acted as a real motivator for him,” she said.

She said Varela went to the premises intending to purchase drugs rather then steal.

Ms Stafford said a message had to be sent to the community that offenders could invade others “sanctuaries”.

“(It) makes everyone in that area feel more insecure when they hear of a break in,” she said.

She said insurance costs would also increase as a result but noted the community would be safe as long as Varela stayed off drugs.

“The terrible combination of mental health impairment and abuse of drugs is probably the root cause of your constant offending,” she said.

Varela was placed on a two-year intensive corrections order and was also given 150 hours of community service work.