David Brennan: Former Bega Roosters front rower sought jail time to see dying father in Broken Hill

A former rugby league frontrower who has converted to Buddhism held up a shop and stole $100 from gaming store in a desperate attempt to get back in jail, a court heard.

A former south coast rugby player who converted to Buddhism was so fed up with the mental health system he robbed a video game store at knifepoint in an attempt to go back behind bars, a court heard.

David Paul Brennan, 39, of Bega, was sentenced to 18 months in jail after buying a knife in Bega’s Sapphire Marketplace Woolworth’ on May 12, before walking into the shopping centres EB Games store, threatening an employee with the blade and grabbing $100 from the till.

Brennan, who had only just been released from the South East Regional Hospital’s mental health unit, then walked across the road to Bega Police Station and handed himself in.

David Paul Brennan walked into EB Games with the knife before walking across the road and handing himself in. Picture: Alasdair McDonald

Brennan, who the court heard also has a criminal record in Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia, pleaded guilty on August 23 to using an offensive weapon with the intent to commit an indictable offence and intimidating someone with the intent to cause fear or physical harm.

The court heard a charge of robbery armed with an offensive weapon was dropped by NSW police prosecutor Sergeant Liza Brown after negotiating the guilty plea for the lesser charges.

She told the court Brennan had handed himself in just minutes after pulling the knife on the employee, and had wanted to go back behind bars.

David Paul Brennan bought the knife from Woolworths after leaving hospital. Picture: Alasdair McDonald

Brennan’s lawyer told the court his client had no intention of keeping the money, and had held the knife pointed down at all times while in the store.

He told the court Brennan had $300 in his wallet when he took the money and had “lost his faith in the mental health system”, despite later being found to be not suffering from any mental health issues.

“He says he can’t rely on it to assist him,” his lawyer told the court.

The court heard Brennan has an extensive criminal history “due to drug use”, and has converted to Buddhism.

David Paul Brennan handed himself in to Bega police just minutes after the offence. Picture: Alasdair McDonald

Brennan, a former Bega Roosters frontrower, was serving a two 12-month community corrections orders at the time of his arrest for damaging a Broken Hill bathroom and resisting arrest.

The court heard Brennan, who appeared via video link from Nowra’s South Coast Correctional Centre, had wanted to be sentenced as soon as possible, and plans on applying for a prison transfer to Broken Hill so his dying father can visit.

Crown prosecutors called Brennan’s offending “a cry for help”, and pushed for a custodial sentence.

“When you’re released, do your dad a favour and stay out of prison,” Magistrate Dick told Brennan during sentencing.

Brennan will be paroled in February next year.