Serial thief Troy Leslie Collins sentenced for Gladstone crime spree

A man who broke into homes and cars during a recent Central Queensland crime spree and used stolen credit cards to make purchases, is a “recidivist property offender,” a court has heard.

Troy Leslie Collins has been jailed in a Gladstone court for crimes including break-ins and fraud. Generic image.

A recidivist property offender responsible for a recent crime spree in Central Queensland, has been jailed.

Troy Leslie Collins, 40, appeared in custody in Gladstone Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to numerous charges including six counts of fraud, multiple counts of entering premises and committing indictable offence by break, possessing stolen property, possessing dangerous drugs and evasion.

During one of the offences in March, Collins gained access to an Isuzu vehicle on Eden Street, Gladstone, and stole a driver’s licence and credit card.

He also gained access to a dwelling there and stole items including prescription medication, a mobile phone, a laptop computer and a passport.

Collins then went to an Ampol service station and used the stolen credit card to buy cigarettes.

A few days later, Collins gained access to a RAV4 vehicle and stole items including clothing, shoes and sunglasses.

He also used a stolen bank card to make numerous fraudulent purchases at a United service station at Gladstone, the court was told.

Gladstone Courthouse.

It heard during one of Collins’ offences, he jemmied open a toilet block door on Goondoon Street and was found asleep there.

“You were photographed by a cleaner,” Magistrate Mary Buchanan said.

When police caught up with Collins, he was found in possession of methamphetamine, a syringe, and three bank cards belonging to other people.

The court heard Collins also committed an evasion offence while driving, with police terminating a pursuit for safety reasons.

Police prosecutor Kelvin Boyd said Collins was a recidivist property offender and the court heard he also had prior fraud and drug offending on his criminal history.

Solicitor Cam Schroder said when Collins was not in custody, he lived with a friend who had a young child and he was “like an uncle” to her.

Mr Schroder said Collins also suffered from a number of medical conditions.

On August 7, Magistrate Buchanan sentenced Collins to 18 months’ jail, declared 25 days’ pre-sentence custody as time already served, and fixed parole release on January 13, 2025.

She disqualified him from driving for two years and two months.

There was no restitution order made and convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Serial thief Troy Leslie Collins sentenced for Gladstone crime spree