Corey Davis sentenced to jail for breaking into childcare centre at Wallsend

A man who broke into a Newcastle childcare centre early one morning was tracked down by police hours when the mobile phone he stole started “pinging”. He has now been sentenced.

Corey Davis was sentenced in Newcastle District Court on Friday. Supplied Amy Ziniak

It took police just 12 hours to hunt down a man who broke into a Newcastle childcare centre early one morning after he was tracked by the mobile phone that he stole.

Corey Brian Davis, 37, from Tighes Hill, had only been on parole for about three months when he hit the Merindah Children’s Centre at Wallsend at around 2am on November 3 last year.

Police facts said he was captured on CCTV looking through the front glass door of the Bunn St residence with a torch and holding a pair of scissors.

He then put on a red glove, threw the torch at the front door unsuccessfully attempting to break the glass before he used an unknown implement to smash the window, reached in and unlocked the door.

Police facts said while the security alarm was going he “rummaged” through multiple cabinets and draws before getting his hands on an iphone, multiple staff keys on lanyards and $100.

Merindah Children's Centre, Wallsend, NSW where Davis broke into. Google Maps

Court documents revealed he went into the children’s play yard and, at some point, dropped his own mobile phone before leaving.

Police were called to the centre and, later that morning, a mobile phone and case were discovered on the ground outside with Corey Davis listed as the emergency contact.

Police facts said Davis switched on the stolen phone at about 1.30pm which started “pinging” and was then tracked to a South Hamilton address where he was found and arrested.

Despite denying any knowledge of the break in, police found the stolen phone, a torch and the sets of keys taken from the centre.

Officers also seized 0.7 grams of methamphetamine and 0.3 grams of cannabis on Davis at the time of his arrest.

Davis pleaded guilty to a charge of break, enter and steal with charges of drug possession and possession of house breaking implements taken into account.

Also taken into account was a charge of break and enter with intent relating to an earlier break in at Hamilton.

Police facts said between October 3-31 last year Davis broke into a vacant building on Tudor St Hamilton by smashing a window.

He went into the kitchen and rummaged through cupboards and drawers but didn’t steal anything.

In Newcastle District Court on Friday Judge Roy Ellis said the offence was aggravated by the fact he was on parole at the time and had a lengthy criminal history of similar offending.

He acknowledged there was limited planning involved and accepted Davis did express remorse for his actions.

He was sentenced to two years and three months jail with a non-parole period of 13 months.

With time already served he could be released out on parole in just over two weeks.