Leigh McGrath sentenced on more than $180k in theft and drug-driving offences in Dandenong Court

A tatted-up Narre Warren South crook busted stealing more than $180k in luxury items, including imported wine, a karaoke machine has learnt his fate.

Leigh McGrath pleaded guilty to more than 50 charges in Dandenong Court after stealing more than $180k in property from a Glen Waverley home in 2023. Picture: Facebook.

A tatted-up Narre Warren South concreter who was busted stealing more than $180,000 in property during a wild crime spree has been set free.

Leigh McGrath, 38, was sentenced in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on April 17 to more than 50 charges.

In court documents seen by the Herald Sun, the charges against McGrath dated back to January 2022, when he was seen driving while unlicensed and on meth in Clayton.

On December 21 in 2022, McGrath was seen riding a black Harley Davidson in Frankston again unlicensed and on meth.

After numerous driving offences, his offending continued on June 29, when he was caught driving disqualified in Cranbourne North in a stolen BMW with an axe, a wooden bat, two grams of meth and an ice pipe inside the car with him.

He also pleaded guilty to stealing power tools and a HP laptop from a car in Officer South on October 10.

McGrath was busted driving with meth in his system on several occasions, once even with an ice pipe in his car.

He was again nabbed by cops on December 14 when he was “loitering at a car wash”.

Officers found McGrath with a black balaclava, cutting pliers, door unlocking tools and glass/metal breakers.

He told police the balaclava was a “sex toy”.

McGrath continued his crime wave between December 15 and December 19, breaking into a Mount Waverley home, where he stole $84,998 worth of items, including luxury handbags and clothing, technology, jewellery, a karaoke machine and alcohol.

McGrath and unknown co-offenders also made off with two luxury cars valued at $90,000 combined.

He was arrested at his Narre Warren South home in January, where a police raid found numerous stolen items in McGrath’s bedroom, including three laptops, an iPhone, a Louis Vuitton bag and a black Microsoft laptop bag.

In court on Wednesday, Magistrate Marita Altman sentenced McGrath to a 15 month suspended sentence, with 97 days served.

He appeared in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court via video link. Picture: Derrick den Hollander

He was released from custody onto a two year order, requiring him to be sober, attend all medical appointments – both physical and mental – to submit to drug and alcohol treatment and to remain off the road for the entirety of the order.

McGrath will also abide by a 9pm to 6am curfew.

Ms Altman said she “would not tolerate him driving disqualified or under the influence of drugs or alcohol”.

“If you drive a motor vehicle while you’re on this order, I will cancel it,” she said.

Ms Altman also formally cancelled and disqualified McGrath’s licence for 12 months for the driving offences.