Max Edward Carne sentenced over Townsville burglary

A criminal keeping watch during a burglary thought he was looking out for passers-by. He had no idea a small doorbell camera was filming him and alerting the home’s owner.

Max Edward Carne pleaded guilty to charges including enter dwelling and commit, and obstruct police.

A Townsville crook on look-out duty during a home robbery was caught red-handed by a small piece of technology.

A doorbell camera captured Max Edward Carne and another man robbing a home in August 2022 - just seven weeks after Carne was paroled for another burglary.

Townsville Magistrates Court heard the camera sent live notifications to the homeowner’s phone.

When police arrived, the 38-year-old shoved an officer in an attempt to resist arrest, continuing to struggle until a taser was placed on his back.

Carne pleaded guilty from custody via videolink to charges of enter dwelling and commit and fail to properly dispose of needle and syringe.

Max Edward Carne pleaded guilty to enter dwelling and commit and obstruct police.

Police prosecutor Mark Fenlon told the court while it was accepted Carne had not entered the house, this was not his first time in court for burglary offences.

“Offences of this nature are prevalent unfortunately … with respect to this particular defendant, a period of imprisonment served no deterrence, parole hanging over his head served no deterrent, and the defendant is back (in court) on similar like offending here,” Mr Fenlon said.

Carne’s lawyer Troydon Maltby said Carne had a “horrendous” history with drugs while living in Brisbane and had moved to Townsville to remove himself from that lifestyle.

“But (he) got off to a rocky start,” Mr Maltby said.

Mr Maltby said a relationship breakdown and past trauma led to Carne’s drug use and he had taken part in the “opportunistic” burglary.

“In terms of what he wishes to do moving forward – he has strongly put to me he is sincere in his effort to engage a psychologist and find work in Townsville,” Mr Maltby said.

Carne was sentenced to 33 months in prison and ordered to complete 40 hours of community service.

His parole eligibility date was set for September, 2023.

Originally published as Max Edward Carne sentenced over Townsville burglary