Serial property offender Shaqeal Bligh in court for Gladstone break-in

A man with “at least a dozen” property offences on his criminal history has faced a Gladstone court for his latest break-in.

Shaqeal Joseph Bligh pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to two charges.

A young man with a criminal history “littered with property offences” has faced court for his latest offending at Gladstone.

Shaqeal Joseph Bligh, 26, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on March 15 to entering premises with intent and attempted stealing.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Tanya Griffiths said that on the night of January 20, police attended an Auckland Street residence in relation to a break-in occurring.

Sgt Griffiths said police saw a window had been smashed and they spoke to Bligh who claimed the resident had sold him a lawnmower and he was collecting it.

The resident told police Bligh had not been sold anything and he had no permission to be at the house, the court heard.

The court was told that Bligh had “an extensive” criminal history dating back to 2014 and it was “littered with property offences”.

Sgt Griffiths said Bligh was last before the court in January 2019 for property offences, where he was sentenced to a term of imprisonment.

Solicitor Bianca Wieland said Bligh, currently unemployed, had been drinking spirits on the night of the incident and he could not remember why he attempted to steal the lawnmower.

Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan noted there were “at least a dozen” property offences on Bligh’s criminal history but she acknowledged there had been a four-year gap in his offending.

Ms Buchanan sentenced Bligh to three months’ jail, immediately suspended, for an operational period of 12 months.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Serial property offender Shaqeal Bligh in court for Gladstone break-in