Benjamin Patrick Keir in court for drugs, identity theft and attempted fraud

A Sunshine Coast roofer whose crime spree took in parts of Brisbane and the Gympie region faced a total of 41 charges, but had 28 of them dismissed because of a lack of evidence.

Sunshine Coast roofer Benjamin Patrick Keir, 38, initially faced 48 charges, but had 28 of them dismissed for lack of evidence, including nine counts of break and enter, four counts of stealing, car theft, fraud and possessing stolen property.

A Sunshine Coast roofer whose crime spree took in parts of Brisbane and the Gympie region was placed on probation and given a suspended jail sentence after being convicted of 13 offences in a Gympie court on Tuesday, June 25.

Benjamin Patrick Keir, 38, initially faced 48 charges, but had 28 of them dismissed for lack of evidence, including nine counts of break and enter, four counts of stealing, car theft, fraud and possessing stolen property.

Keir had already served 524 days in pre-sentence custody but faced the Gympie Magistrates court to finalise the rest of his charges.

The court heard his crimes were committed across Toowong, Goomboorian, Wilsons Pocket, South Brisbane, West End, Kenmore, Wacol, Gympie, Monkland, Morayfield and Pomona between June 25, 2021 and February 3, 2023.

Sunshine Coast roofer Benjamin Patrick Keir, 38, initially faced 48 charges, but had 28 of them dismissed for lack of evidence, including nine counts of break and enter, four counts of stealing, car theft, fraud and possessing stolen property.

He was convicted of multiple counts of possessing stolen property, receiving stolen property, uttering a forged document, attempted fraud, identity theft, possessing dangerous drugs, car theft and break and enter.

For break and enter he was sentenced to 15 months in jail, entering premises and committing indictable two years in jail, and receiving tainted properties nine months in jail.

Because Keir had already served 18 months in jail, 524 days were subtracted from the total amount of his imprisonment.

His defence lawyer, Trent Playford, said Keir struggled with mental health after his parents died.

“My client got involved into drug use and suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which led him to commit some of the unthinkable things,” he said.

Magistrate Bevan Hughes said “drugs prevent you from healing because using drugs will not give your parents the legacy they deserve”.

“What your parents don’t need is you wasting your life and the offending all stems from the use of drugs and it’s not worth it,” he said.

“What you should start thinking is what your parents want you to do in their honour.”

“You’re relatively a young man at 38 and you have a decent future ahead of you, your future doesn’t need to be your past,” Mr Hughes said.

The community is hurting because of the bad things that you’re doing to people.

“People are entitled to feel safe in their homes, people have worked hard for their property and enjoyment of their property.”

Mr Playford said he had reached out to Keir’s employer and he had agreed to take Keir back when he was released from prison.

Keir’s sentence was suspended for two years and he was released on probation.

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Originally published as Benjamin Patrick Keir in court for drugs, identity theft and attempted fraud