‘Absolutely appalling’: Jason Baz behind bars for breaking into woman’s unit

An Illawarra man found by the police under a load of laundry after breaking into his neighbour’s unit has learnt his fate.

Jason Baz was sentenced in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday.

An Illawarra father will be behind bars for a year after storming into the unit of his new neighbour in an effort to escape the cops.

Jason Baz, 44, was sentenced to 16 months behind bars with a non-parole period of 12 months in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to possessing an unauthorised pistol and break and enter.

Court documents stated Baz was spotted peering into a construction site by police in Woonona about 9.35am on Tuesday, September 13, last year.

Baz became “immediately nervous and mumbly” when questioned by police.

He told the officers his name was “Shane or Steven” and was not able to give his date of birth.

Police searched his backpack and found a .22 blank calibre Gecado starter pistol which Baz said was “just a cap gun”.

Baz was directed to unzip his bumbag when he said “ya f---ing dog” before fleeing the scene and jumping a nearby fence.

While police searched for Baz, he stormed into a unit on Sussex St, Woonona, which was in a block where he lived.

The break and enter occurred at this set of units on Sussex St, Woonona. Picture: Google Maps

“I’ve done nothing wrong,” Baz told the female victim.

“If you‘ve done nothing wrong go outside and speak to [the police],” the victim replied before eventually forcing him to leave.

Baz snatched $40 out of the woman‘s purse and ran away.

About 11am, police were told Baz was at another unit in the block and when they were given permission to search the address Baz was found hiding under a “large mound of clothing”.

Baz told police he knew the victim as they had been neighbours for “about a week” and he told them he needed the $40 for a taxi.

The court heard on Wednesday Baz was “somewhat institutionalised” and possesses an “absolutely appalling” criminal record.

Magistrate Roger Prowse said Baz had let himself and the community down for breaching an intensive correction order when commissioning these offences.

“You‘re absolutely and utterly impervious to offending,” the magistrate said when handing down the sentence.

With time already served, Baz could be eligible for parole in September, this year.