Zachariah John Hewitt sentenced in Gladstone for QLD crime spree

A man was “on the run” from the law when he committed a two-month drug-fuelled crime spree across Queensland, with police eventually arresting him at Gladstone with a shotgun on the back seat of his stolen vehicle.

Zachariah John Hewitt was sentenced in Gladstone Magistrates Court on December 20.

A man has been sentenced in Gladstone for his two-month drug-fuelled crime spree across Queensland.

Zachariah John Hewitt, 33, appeared in custody in Gladstone Magistrates Court on December 20, where he pleaded guilty to 32 charges including 11 counts of stealing, trespass, two counts of entering dwelling and commit, possessing a shortened firearm, three counts of unlawful use of motor vehicles, and two counts of disqualified driving.

The court heard that Hewitt was involved in a two-month drug-fuelled crime spree across Queensland.

Of the three stolen cars, two were rental cars and the other was taken from the Endeavour Foundation - a not-for-profit charity.

The court was told the stealing offences related to Hewitt committing fuel drive-offs at many different service stations across the state.

Police prosecutor Jennifer Leach said in April this year, police arrested Hewitt after finding him in a stolen vehicle at South Gladstone.

Ms Leach said officers found a shortened 12-gauge double-barrel shotgun on the back seat of the vehicle.

Ms Leach said the gun was not loaded but two cartridges were found in the centre console of the car.

Zachariah John Hewitt.

The court heard that Hewitt’s criminal and traffic histories were both 10 pages long.

A solicitor said Hewitt was “no stranger to the criminal justice system.”

The solicitor said Hewitt was exposed to “significant trauma” growing up and the court heard that his father was a drug addict and his mother an alcoholic.

In relation to these offences before the court, the solicitor said Hewitt had committed them while “on the run” from the law.

The lawyer said when Hewitt was eventually released from prison, he would be subject to “a long period” of supervision in the community.

Magistrate Mary Buchanan sentenced Hewitt to 18 months’ jail, declared 241 days’ pre-sentence custody as time already served, and fixed immediate parole eligibility.

A forfeiture order was made for the weapon and the ammunition.

Hewitt was disqualified from driving absolutely.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Zachariah John Hewitt sentenced in Gladstone for QLD crime spree