Zepplin Joseph Bath pleads guilty in Cairns Supreme Court to 28 charges including meth possession and threatening violence

A former mechanic who went on a crime spree, armed at times with guns and knives and driving directly at a man trying to reclaim his stolen car, has been sentenced in court.

Zepplin Joseph Bath, 28, was convicted in Cairns Supreme Court last month on 28 charges including threatening violence, arson, stealing, and possessing drugs. Picture: Supplied

A former mechanic who set fire to a stolen car, fired shots outside his former partner’s house, threatened to shoot someone in the face, and fraudulently scored more than $100,000 faced Cairns Supreme Court on 28 charges.

Justice James Henry said by the time of the crime spree between March and August 2022, Zepplin Joseph Bath, 28, who was serving a suspended sentence at the time, had already amassed convictions including armed robbery with violence in company and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

Justice Henry said “given the serious collections of offences now before me”, Zepplin had “descended into an illicit, drug-fuelled, lawless existence”.

Zepplin turned up at the home of a former girlfriend with what appeared to be a .22 rifle, pointed the gun at the man who came to the door and shouted “get the f*** out of my family, c***, or I’ll shoot you in the face” and fired the gun down the street.

Zepplin Joseph Bath, 28, was convicted in Cairns Supreme Court last month on 28 charges including threatening violence, arson, stealing, and possessing drugs. Picture: Supplied

Despite being disqualified from driving, Bath stole a man’s HiLux from near the owner’s workplace at Portsmith – initially costing the man $5332 in lost tools.

The man saw Bath in the car at Bungalow and drove toward the HiLux but Bath drove directly at him, before trying to ram him a second time while the man waited for police.

The man later heard the HiLux was at Bentley Park and found it at White Rock, and once again, Bath drove at him head on, and he was forced to swerve onto a grass verge.

He was seen by police on busy Toogood Rd driving on the wrong side of the road and driving through a red light.

Bath stole fuel from petrol stations on three occasions, the court heard.

In June 2022, police intercepted Bath driving a Mercedes and saw an open sharps container in the car.

Zepplin Joseph Bath, 26, will be eligible for parole on May 13, 2025, having served 627 days in pre-sentence custody. He was sentenced on charges including aggravated drug possession, arson and fraud involving more than $100,000 in fake ATO business claims. Picture: Supplied

Bath admitted smoking meth but did not tell police he had a substantial amount of meth stuffed down the back of his pants, and while handcuffed and despite repeated warnings, Bath threw himself around to avoid police searching him, leading to an obstruct police charge.

Police found 23.24g of meth, a 5cm knife and digital scales.

Justice Henry said at least a material part of the meth was for commercial purposes.

On August 22, 2022, Zepplin drove the HiLux to a cane paddock in Edmonton, followed by his brother in another car, and set the vehicle alight.

“The vehicle was entirely gutted by flame, rendering it a valueless wreck,” Justice Henry said.

The HiLux cost $10,000 and had $15,000 worth of modifications and was not insured, the court heard.

Three days later, police found Bath hiding behind a bin in possession of methamphetamine.

The court heard Bath made fake BAS claims to the ATO, which, if genuine, would have reflected a business with a turnover of an astonishing $4.5m.

“It soon became obvious to the ATO that something was seriously amiss,” Justice Henry said.

Bath had an ABN as he ran a mechanical business at one stage and after submitting the fake paperwork on four occasions, he landed payments totalling $106,469, which Justice Henry ordered he repay.

Bath, who spent 627 days in pre-sentence custody, received a head sentence of six and a half years.

He was ordered to repay the HiLux owner $20,000.

Originally published as Zepplin Joseph Bath pleads guilty in Cairns Supreme Court to 28 charges including meth possession and threatening violence