Bailey Evans: Port Macquarie man jailed for break and enters taking right steps to rehabilitation
The sister of a man jailed on Thursday for smashing up businesses in Port Macquarie says his incarceration is motivating him to be a better person.
Mid-North Coast
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A serial thief and recovering drug user jailed for breaking and entering businesses across a six-week period in Port Macquarie is using prison as a positive place to rehabilitate his life, his sister says.
Bailey Evans, 22, of Lake Cathie appeared in Port Macquarie Court on Thursday, to face sentencing on 23 charges relating to aggravated and attempted break and enters over a six week period between October 21 and December 10, 2020.
Mr Evans was largely acting alone when he smashed up to 19 businesses with hammers, bricks and rocks before stealing or attempting to steal items from each.
All businesses hit where unattended at the time, given the early morning hours in which his offending occurred. Items taken range from cash and cans of soft drink to high-end jewellery and Ritalin taken from Katecaters, Waniora Village, and 16 boxes of Viagra stolen from a nearby pharmacy.
The offences stretched across a number of suburbs, including Lake Innes, Thrumster, Laurieton and Port Macquarie – with CCTV cameras mounted at a number of businesses showing the 22-year-old wearing dark black vans, a white Everlast hooded jumper and tanned boots which were later retrieved from his home when police seized them for evidence.
DNA, being blood, which spilt from a wound caused by smashing through glass was also part of the police case against him. He pleaded guilty to the offences at the earliest opportunity, and has been in custody since his arrest in December.
He was jailed on Thursday for 28 months, with a non-parole period of 12 months.
He will be eligible for release in December.
Supporting Evans in court on Thursday was his sister Loren Murray.
Ms Murray, who appeared with two other family members, spoke to The Mid-North Coast News following his sentencing.
She said the six months her brother has already served is putting him on the right path to rehabilitation.
“I’m not proud of what he did, he knows that … but I’m proud of him for taking the opportunity to improve himself physically and mentally while he has been incarcerated, and I’ll support him to work towards his goals while he is there and when he comes home in December,” she said.
“I’m grateful that the time [in jail] he has been given he is using to benefit himself and our family.
“The judicial system intervened but ultimately Bailey chose to better himself and I think that's commendable.”
Ms Murray said that his case was a good opportunity to highlight a lack of mental health awareness for young men, which can lead to crimes being committed.
“If young people had the intervention and support early they’d be less inclined to find themselves on the wrong path.”
On sentencing, Magistrate Georgina Darcy considered an intensive corrections order to be served in the community, but decided his level of offending had exceeded the threshold and jail was the only suitable option.
“He is a young man, only 22 years age, and does not have a lengthy criminal record,” Ms Darcy said.
“Mr Evans was frank with the community corrections report writer and indicated that he committed the crimes to fund his methamphetamine addiction.
“It is not an excuse for his behaviour. Many businesses are targeted by people like Mr Evans who are looking for quick money to satisfy their addiction to drugs.
“Mr Evans has expressed his remorse through a sentencing assessment report and has indicated that he wished he could apologise to the victims, but was too embarrassed to do so.
“I doubt an apology would have much impact on the victims who have gone through so much in the last two years.
“To have these offences committed against them was just another significant event that disrupted their ability to make an income.
“It’s not just the people who own the businesses but the people who work there as well.”
Ms Darcy also ordered a compensation payment of $22,440 be paid to the affected businesses.
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