Meth addict burglar Cooper Silvester sentenced in Gladstone court
A 23-year-old meth user who has racked up a lengthy criminal history has been told his drug addiction is ruining his life.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A meth addict responsible for numerous burglaries was busted asleep at a Gladstone business he’d just targeted.
Cooper Grant David Silvester, 23, appeared in custody in Gladstone Magistrates Court on January 31 where he pleaded guilty to numerous enter premises charges.
The court heard that about 3.40am on January 8, he damaged a front glass door at a Gladstone business and when he got inside he grabbed a torch and four sets of keys.
Two hours later, about 5.45am, an employee of the business found him asleep in one of the trucks on site.
Silvester was subsequently arrested.
The court was told that Silvester had previously been employed in construction and general labouring roles.
It heard that he had a lengthy criminal history consisting of mainly property and dishonesty offences, and he had struggled with meth use since the age of 18.
Magistrate Mary Buchanan noted that four months prior to these latest offences, Silvester was given a suspended jail sentence in Rockhampton Magistrates Court for break-in offences.
“These offences occurred very early on in the operational period of that suspended sentence,” Ms Buchanan said.
The magistrate told Silvester that meth use was “ruining your life.”
Ms Buchanan sentenced Silvester to three years’ jail, activated the suspended sentence to run concurrently, and declared 23 days in pre-sentence custody as time already served.
She fixed parole eligibility at November 8, 2024.
Convictions were recorded.
More Coverage
Originally published as Meth addict burglar Cooper Silvester sentenced in Gladstone court
Mum assaults servo worker, breaks necklace, in ugly altercation
What started with a married mother’s card declining at a Central Queensland service station turned physical when she attacked a worker who tried to record her number plate details.
‘Frightening experience’: Drunk dad attacks man with fence paling
A father of three will remain behind bars after he attacked a man in a Central Queensland town with a fence paling while drunk “in a random act of violence”.
‘Soft girl hands’: Young man jailed as trigger for nightclub bashing revealed
A young Central Queensland man has been jailed after a nightclub bashing which left his much older victim with serious head injuries including brain bleeding and a skull fracture.
‘Time you grew up’: Diesel fitter stole company car, caught with meth
A Central Queensland diesel fitter stole a company car and was not heard from for six weeks until police got involved, a court has heard.
Forensic evidence hold up in MP’s alleged rape investigation
More than four months after a Qld MP made a rape and drink spiking complaint to police, the investigation continues. But she says she is focusing on what is in her control - campaigning for the election.
‘So traumatised’: Cafe operator fined after neighbour dispute turns ugly
A woman operating a cafe near the site of a chemical explosion that blew a hole in the Bruce Hwy, had been “so traumatised” by an ongoing dispute with a man running a business next door, that she lost her cool and ended up in court.