Serial thief out of prison after latest spate of offending

A SERIAL thief from Mackay driven by ice addiction has been released from prison after his latest spate of crimes.

Benjamin James Ostwald, 32, faced Mackay Magistrates Court from prison on Friday. Picture: Facebook

A SERIAL thief from Mackay driven by ice addiction has been released from prison after his latest spate of crimes.

Benjamin James Ostwald, who has a four page criminal record in Queensland, faced Mackay Magistrates Court on Friday over videolink from prison.

Ostwald pleaded guilty to one count of burglary, two counts of stealing, and one count each of possessing tainted property and fraud.

The 32-year-old also admitted to breaching a probation order.

Ostwald's mother and grandmother watched on as he was sentenced, wiping away tears at times.

Prosecutor Acting Sergeant Merishia Wheatley handed up documents to Magistrate Mark Nolan which detailed Ostwald's offending.

Ostwald snuck into the garage of a South Mackay home and made off with a bicycle on April 9.

Eight days later, on April 17, Ostwald was found in South Mackay with a leaf blower and pump, which was tainted property.

Ostwald stole a toolbox in South Mackay on March 29 - just days after he stole welding equipment from Bunnings Warehouse in Paget on March 25.

Lastly, Ostwald fraudulently used a Bank of Queensland card between October 27 and November 2 last year.

Ostwald's latest sentence followed his conviction on 17 charges in September last year, for offences including burglary, stealing, possession of a knife in public, contravening police. possessing drug utensils and breaching probation.

On that occasion, Ostwald was placed on another probation order.

Come February this year, Ostwald pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing and one count of driving while disqualified.

He escaped with a suspended prison term on that occasion.

On Friday, Act Sgt Wheatley argued Ostwald should be jailed, as suspended sentences and probation had not deterred him.

Ostwald's own defence lawyer, Antoinette Morton, conceded Ostwald had committed "years of offending", which was fuelled by a methamphetamine (ice) addiction.

She said Ostwald had spent 60 days in prison before sentence which had acted as "quite a deterrent".

Mr Nolan interposed, saying he believed Ostwald's latest crimes marked an "escalation in offending".

Ostwald was said to be seeking help to rehabilitate through programs such as Lives Lived Well and Ms Morton described Ostwald's thefts as "spontaneous" and "opportunistic", with no planning involved.

Mr Nolan told Ostwald "the decision to get off ice or not belongs to you" and urged him to get clean and make the best of his life.

Ostwald was sentenced to an overarching term of 12 months jail, and he'll have a 12 month suspended term hanging over his head.

He was released on parole immediately.

Ostwald was also fined $500 and ordered to pay restitutions of about $480.

Originally published as Serial thief out of prison after latest spate of offending