Daniel Lee Mongta-Kelly: South coast crime spree man jailed
A 22-year-old went on a devastating crime spree targeting businesses ranging from car dealerships and delis to a post office and even a cake shop. He left a trail of destruction and has now been handed his punishment.
The South Coast News
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A man who brazenly targeted more than ten south coast businesses, typically arriving in the dead of night before robbing and trashing them, has been sentenced to almost a decade behind bars.
Daniel Lee Mongta-Kelly was responsible for a two-month crime spree early last year which targeted motor dealerships, cake stores and even the local post office.
The 22-year-old man’s reign of horror began about 3am on January 22, 2019 when he scaled a six-foot fence at Nissan, Suzuki, Fiat Professional and MG car dealership at Albion Park Rail.
He was captured on CCTV brazenly walking through the dealership, without any form of disguise, trying car doors before he stole keys to a Suzuki Vitari and rammed out through the front gate, court documents reveal.
Less than 48 hours, “with no rhyme or reason” the car was found burnt said Judge Steven Norrish.
About a month later Mongta-Kelly, with the help of two new-found criminal accomplices, robbed $300 and a car from O2 Auto Sports Service Centre in South Nowra, before robbing a Mercedes Benz van the next day from Eden business south coast Ice.
On February 28, Mongta-Kelly and his criminal pals stole three cars from Ron Doyle Motors, as well as stealing about $5000 worth of clothes from Sportspower Merimbula.
A week later a stolen car was used to help rob $1000 from the Reject Shop in Kiama, with other businesses to fall victim to Mongta-Kelly’s crimes in later weeks including Bega Post office, Batemans Bay’s Starfish Deli, Wollongong businesses Coles Express service station and City Coast Motorcycles, as well as Akwells Auto Wreckers in Bomaderry.
The 22-year-old man arrived by pushbike to execute his final brazen crime before his arrest, stealing a biscuit and $200 cash from Nowra’s Decadence Cakes.
The court heard Mongta-Kelly, who entered a plea of guilty three days into a judge-alone trial, had a lengthy criminal history from the age 10.
The south coast-raised man claimed he had never had the chance to live a life away from drugs and crime after being removed from his large family as a boy, however Judge Norrish found he had been given many opportunities through the justice system.
Mongta-Kelly was convicted of 16 offences, including steal motor vehicle, break enter and steal and assault, and was sentenced to nine and a half years jail.
The 22-year-old will be eligible for parole from September 2024.