Ben Kyl Wayne McKernan jailed for 12 offences in bizarre spree

A young Brisbane man on parole scaled the outside of a unit complex to gain access to a terrarium as part of a bizarre crime spree, a court has heard.

A young Brisbane ice addict’s attempt to steal a snake after scaling the exterior of a unit complex to access the terrarium was foiled when the “not too willing” reptile bit him several times in response, a court has heard.

Annerley man Ben Kyl Wayne McKernan, 22, pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Tuesday to a grab-bag of 12 offences committed across three different local government areas.

They included, most seriously, two charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, entering premises with intent, receiving tainted property and three charges of trespass.

The attempted reptile heist occurred on February 20 this year.

According to Magistrate Dennis Kinsella, McKernan “inexplicably” climbed the outside of a unit complex in order to access the terrarium via a balcony.

Annerley man Ben Kyl Wayne McKernan, 22. Picture: Facebook

“Fortunately you were foiled, the snake was not too willing and you got a number of bites,” Mr Kinsella said.

“You should have learnt your lesson there”.

Five days later, on February 25, in Brisbane City, McKernan was discovered “drugged up on a road” in possession of 2g of substance containing methamphetamine.

McKernan refused to give his particulars and was also discovered in possession of a stolen car which contained the ingredients for a molotov cocktail.

This was followed by a fuel drive-off in Richlands, the theft of drill bits from Mount Gravatt, stealing a bicycle, three trespasses in Alexandra Hills when he was fleeing police from a “well-known drug house”, and driving around another stolen vehicle.

McKernan was remanded in custody on July 26 after his existing 15-month parole order was suspended.

Defence lawyer Matthew Fairclough told the court drugs continued to be a problem for his client.

Mr Kinsella sentenced him to 17 months’ imprisonment with immediate parole-eligibility.

Originally published as Ben Kyl Wayne McKernan jailed for 12 offences in bizarre spree