Poor living arrangements fuel man’s crime spree

A “significant” addiction to meth brought on a three-month long crime spree in an effort to fund the habit, a Launceston magistrate heard. Here’s what the court heard.

Launceston man, Brock Iezzi, sentenced over drug-fuelled crime spree

A 32-year-old man has avoided a jail sentence for now after a three-month drug-fuelled crime spree.

At Launceston Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Magistrate Simon Brown told Brock Iezzi he was “the author of his own fate”, when the magistrate decided to defer sentencing on Iezzi.

Iezzi faced dozens of charges for trespassing, aggravated burglary, possession of stolen goods and drug related offences which he pleaded guilty to.

Over the three month period, around $20,000 worth of goods were stolen, from power tools, to television and skateboards.

The court heard from defence counsel Fran McCracken Iezzi’s drug use had significantly ramped up when he moved in with individuals who he would end up offending with.

She said his drug addiction was “significantly out of control” and was stealing to fund his addiction.

Over the three month period Iezzi was in that living situation, he committed the burglary offences.

One was with co-accused on May 6, 2024 in Nawbola.

Launceston Magistrate Court.

At 2.30am three men broke into a locked container and granny flat, their torch light was spotted by neighbours who called the police.

The neighbours closed the gate to exit the property, but the men returned to the car and smashed through the gate to leave.

Police had just arrived on scene and were able to intercept the car, speaking to the car’s three occupants including Iezzi.

Items found in the car included prescription medication belonging to the owner of the container and granny flat.

Iezzi was searched and a snaplock bag of methamphetamine was found on him as well as a broken ice pipe.

On July 13, Iezzi targeted a number of houses on Newstead Crescent.

Brazenly hitting houses over the fence from where he was residing at the time, leaving stolen items strewn on the street.

He broke into several houses, breaking in through windows or glass door panes, ransacking the house.

One witness saw Iezzi in his backyard “heavily drug affected”.

On July 22, with co-accused, Iezzi stole power tools from a car parked at Launceston General Hospital.

On August 12, Iezzi again targeted Newstead Crescent where a witness spotted him in the backyard and called police. Iezzi was arrested.

Magistrate Brown said he was concerned Iezzi was still a drug user.

“I can end this at any time, if things go off the rails,” he said.

Magistrate Brown said while he would defer sentencing, a imprisonment sentence would hang over Iezzi if he didn’t improve.

“This is on you, you are the author of your own fate,” he said.

Iezzi will return to court on February 27.

Originally published as Poor living arrangements fuel man’s crime spree