‘Appalling history of dishonesty’: Thief appears in M’boro court

The man’s criminal history had him looking down the barrel of a jail sentence. This is how he dodged it

He was sentenced to three months in prison, wholly suspended with an operational period of 12 months.

A man with an “appalling history of dishonesty” has narrowly avoided a prison sentence.

Jacob Stanley Mitchell, 23, pleaded guilty in Maryborough Magistrates Court to one count of stealing.

But the relatively minor nature of the charge was made more serious by Mitchell’s criminal history.

The court heard Mitchell had stolen a 25-piece drill set worth about $99 from Bunnings.

He had been doing some drilling that day, the court heard, and he had broken a piece before heading to the hardware store.

He had exited the business without making any attempt to pay.

When he was spoken to by police, Mitchell was upset and remorseful, the court heard.

Mitchell had an extensive criminal history, including an “appalling history of dishonesty”.

Defence lawyer Natasha McKeough said her client was a young man who had recently become a father and was “working very hard towards becoming something better”.

He was trying to find employment and while on parole at the time of committing the crime, he had in general done very well on it, she said.

Magistrate John Milburn said the offending involved a relatively low level of criminality.

But he said Mitchell’s criminal history was very much against him and he had placed himself at risk of going into custody.

He was sentenced to three months in prison, wholly suspended with an operational period of 12 months.

Originally published as ‘Appalling history of dishonesty’: Thief appears in M’boro court