Jamie Gear jailed for violent crime spree with knife, assaulting bystander
A Bundaberg father has been sentenced to three years in jail after a three-day crime bender where he stormed multiple stores with a knife, stole goods, and attacked a bystander.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Bundaberg father of two has been sentenced to three years in jail after a three-day crime spree where he robbed multiple stores with a knife and assaulted a bystander.
Jamie Cameron Gear, 30, pleaded guilty in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Thursday, January 30, to stealing from several stores in Bundaberg Central in May 2024, while armed with a knife.
Gear was charged with stealing after previous convictions, six counts of going armed to cause fear, two counts of threatening violence, and one count of assault occasioning bodily harm.
Police prosecutor Leon Casey told the court that at the time of the offences, Gear was 29 and was seen distressed, running from one part of Bundaberg to another.
During the “bender”, he punched a person in the face after being caught stealing from several stores.
Mr Casey said Gear had a history of stealing dating back to 2011 and had previously served time in jail.
He noted that Gear also had a past conviction for armed robbery from 2018, as well as a history of threatening violence and assault.
Gear had already served 271 days in pre-sentence custody and was set to be released on parole on Monday, February 3, the court heard.
Gear’s legal representative, Ryan Dwyer, said Gear was intoxicated during the offences and had not been taking his prescribed medication for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia at the time.
He said Gear had now been medicated for the past four months.
The court heard Gear had two children, aged 13 and six, and had recently had contact with his eldest son before his previous incarceration.
Mr Dwyer also mentioned that Gear’s brother had cancer.
Magistrate John McInnes said Gear’s extensive criminal history influenced the sentencing.
He referenced a past case where Gear deprived someone of their liberty and noted that while many of Gear’s offences involved minor thefts and threats, the assault during the spree justified a harsher sentence.
“What leads him to a higher sentence is the assault that occurred where someone actually got punched,” Mr McInnes said.
Gear was sentenced to a concurrent sentence, bringing his total jail time to three years.
A conviction was recorded.
More Coverage
Originally published as Jamie Gear jailed for violent crime spree with knife, assaulting bystander
Man turns himself in after alleged hit and run leaves child seriously injured
A 44-year-old man will face court after allegedly hitting a 13-year-old boy with his car on the first day of school in Bundaberg, then fleeing from the scene.
Investigation into baby’s unexplained death continues one year on
A year after the tragic death of four-month-old Lucas Young, questions surrounding the baby boy’s injuries remain unanswered.
Four in hospital after multi-vehicle crash Windermere
Emergency services have rushed to the scene of a crash in Windermere after reports of a multi-vehicle crash this morning. DETAILS
Beloved steakhouse suddenly closes after 14 years
A beloved Bundaberg restaurant has shocked the community with its sudden closure after 14 years of trading.
‘W*nkers … your gonna get f*cking shot’: Accused fraudster’s vile tirade
A 33-year-old man charged with 10 counts of fraud has unleashed on a Bundaberg court while appearing before the magistrate via a video link from jail.
Fisherman fined $9k after taking trawler into restricted reef waters
The captain of a fishing trawler failed to show up four times to answer a charge of taking his trawler through a protected part of the Great Barrier Reef near Lady Elliot Island.