Bike-riding boozer’s bungled Lynbrook Hotel bottle shop burglary
A bungled burglary has ended up with the thirsty thief on bail on the strict condition he stays away from pubs, restaurants and liquor shops, and doesn’t drink alcohol or take drugs.
South East
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A boozer’s bungled bottle-o burglary has ended up with the thirsty thief being given four months behind bars.
But Andrew Powell is appealing the length of his jail term and is now out on bail on the strict condition he stays away from pubs, licensed restaurants and liquor shops.
The 41-year-old homeless man – who has a shocking rap sheet with nearly 500 criminal priors - must also refrain from drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
On Friday the online Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard at around 11pm on November 23 last year Powell rode his pushbike to the Lynbrook Hotel.
He had a late-night hankering for alcohol when he tried to break into the Thirsty Camel bottle shop next door by using a mallet and screwdriver.
He had no joy so rode off, but came back a few minutes later with a large rock.
He threw that through the glass door, crawled inside and filled a backpack with grog and cigarettes.
Powell didn’t rush his crime, taking the time to light up a cigarette and knock back a can of booze.
Passers-by had heard the commotion and held him until police arrived.
He was arrested with $300 worth of alcohol and ciggies in his bag as well as a small amount of cannabis in his pocket.
He was highly intoxicated at the time and refused to answer questions.
When he faced court earlier this month he pleaded guilty to the burglary and copped a four-month sentence.
But he wasn’t happy with that jail term and appealed it to the County Court.
Last year Powell had also been given eight months behind bars for a series of low-level burglaries and a bizarre arson.
The pyromaniac prisoner had set fire to his cell by rigging up jam portion foil lids to a power point.
He lit up his bedding causing smoke alarms to go off and wardens had to come and save him.
Powell had also broken into shops across the southeast including Springvale and Dandenong and stolen items such as drinks, chips, chocolate bars, lighters and cash.
He had also nicked cigarettes from petrol stations and broke into multiple cars, taking coins and anything else of value.
His defence lawyer said he should be given appeal bail on the bottle shop crime until his County Court date because due to COVID-19 emergency management days he is accruing he may well end up serving more than the four months he was originally given.
She said he had accommodation options in Dandenong and support for his mental health, drug and alcohol issues in the community.
Magistrate Andrew Halse said it was in the interests of justice he be released and conditions could be imposed to minimise his risk of reoffending.
Powell was bailed to appear at the County Court on February 17.
