Jacob Leslie Van Wyk sentenced for Gladstone business break-ins

A man who broke into Central Queensland businesses on consecutive nights, causing losses of more than $60,000, was on a meth-bender fuelled by a great pokies win.

A man who broke into two Central Queensland businesses, causing more than $60,000 damage and losses, was on a three-month meth bender at the time, a court has heard.

Appearing in custody, Jacob Leslie Van Wyk, 25, was sentenced in the District Court at Gladstone after pleading guilty to break and enter and stealing, unlawful use of motor vehicle with property damage, and entering premises with intent.

The court heard Van Wyk was on a drug bender when he targeted two Gladstone businesses under the cover of darkness.

Overnight on December 9 last year, Van Wyk went to Gladstone Machining and Fabrication with bolt cutters and he cut the fence to gain access to the business.

He then smashed a front glass window and took three laptops and numerous keys.

One set of keys was to a Toyota HiLux which Van Wyk drove off in.

The HiLux was later found by police, damaged beyond repair.

The Crown said the estimated property loss to Gladstone Machining and Fabrication was in the range of $52,000, and it incurred about a further $10,000 loss of business while being closed to repair damage.

The next day, again in the early hours of the morning, Van Wyk went to Harbour City Motorcycles where he broke a glass window and entered the store.

He tried to wheel a motorbike out of the store using a makeshift ramp which he had brought with him, but he was unsuccessful and fled empty handed.

Jacob Leslie Van Wyk.

Van Wyk was later identified through forensic evidence having left fingerprints at the scene.

On December 19, police executed a search warrant at Van Wyk’s residence and they found clothing matching what CCTV footage captured him wearing at Harbour City Motorcycles.

Van Wyk had been in pre-sentence custody since that day.

The court heard when Van Wyk committed these crimes, he was on suspended sentences.

It heard Van Wyk’s criminal history was “considerable” and included drug offending as well as property and dishonesty offences.

It was further told when Van Wyk was 20, he was sentenced in the District Court at Brisbane to three-and-a-half years’ jail for burning his mother’s house down.

Barrister Scott Moon said Van Wyk was born and raised in Redcliffe and had a “poor childhood”.

Mr Moon said Van Wyk left school in Year 9 after being expelled.

He said Van Wyk was a father of two who had worked in a variety of labouring jobs and car detailing, and after release from custody he planned to move to Cairns where he had car detailing work lined up.

Mr Moon said prior to the offending, Van Wyk won “an amount of money” on poker machines and he went on “a three-month bender.”

“He bought some things for the business that he had, and a car, but spent the majority of the money on methamphetamine.”

Mr Moon said at the time of the offending, Van Wyk was using meth daily, anywhere between 10 points to 15 points a day.

“He doesn’t have any particular recollection of these offences due to his illicit substance abuse but accepts of course, that he committed those.”

Mr Moon said Van Wyk was remorseful and not beyond rehabilitation.

On July 11, Judge Jeff Clarke activated the suspended sentences and sentenced Van Wyk to three years’ jail, declaring 205 days pre-sentence custody as time already served.

Parole release was set at December 19, 2024.

Originally published as Jacob Leslie Van Wyk sentenced for Gladstone business break-ins