Malachi Samuel Charles Fisher jailed for BWS ram raid, burglaries

A teenager, cornered at a home by more than 100 residents fed up with youth crime, was already on parole when he helped steal cars and break in to homes, a court has heard.

Malachi Samuel Charles Fisher, 18, made a bail application in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on May 8 after being charged with one count each of burglary, robbery by break, possession of drug utensils and drugs, stealing, possessing suspected stolen property and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

The teenager who made headlines when a crowd of vigilantes surrounded a Rockhampton residence had already been freed by the courts multiple times before he committed a staggering number of new crimes.

This was revealed in Rockhampton Magistrates Court during the sentencing of 18-year-old Malachi Samuel Charles Fisher.

Fisher was said to have already been on parole, a suspended sentence and an 18-month probation order when he broke into a home, caused damage and disturbed the occupant on April 16.

The break in occurred 12 days after Fisher was last sentenced in court for burglary, and it was the second such offence he committed that night, the court heard.

He was then involved in a “convoy of four stolen cars” where offenders entered carports and took scooters, a wallet and photography equipment.

Malachi Samuel Charles Fisher, 18, has been sentenced for a string of crimes including break-ins and the ram raid of a BWS.

Fisher entered BWS after a stolen car, in which he was a passenger, rammed the store’s doors and stole alcohol in May.

Two days later, an angry mob of more than 100 people frustrated at the youth crime crisis gathered for a “rally” at Central Park to organise “neighbourhood watch groups” before being given an address where Fisher was staying.

Part of the rally group moved to a Norman Gardens street, calling Fisher out.

Torin O'Brien speaking with Rockhampton police during the community rally.

Police prosecutor Clancy Fox said there was significant damage to the BWS store, including smashed glass, sliding doors and loss of money as the business was unable to trade until repairs were complete.

He said the cost of how much alcohol Fisher stole couldn’t be calculated as he was not the sole offender.

Fisher pleaded guilty to 10 charges including two counts of enter dwelling and commit indictable offence, along with one count each of enter dwelling and commit indictable offence by break at night in company and damage property, enter premises and commit, enter premises and commit by break, possessing drugs, possessing utensils, stealing, possessing stolen property and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

A public meeting was hosted by Torin O'Brien at Rockhampton's Central Park for people to stand together against crime. The group then went to a home where Malachi Fisher was staying.

Defence lawyer Pierre Lammersdorf said his client was born and raised in Mt Isa, moving to Rockhampton about two years ago.

He said Fisher started using marijuana when he was nine-years-old and methamphetamines at 16.

Mr Lammersdorf said the offending before the court occurred because his client, who along with dealing with his drug use, wasn’t welcome in his own home due to family disputes.

He also said Fisher plans to relocate from Rockhampton once released from custody.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale warned people could not simply move away from trouble.

“Trouble will find you wherever you are,” she said.

Ms Beckinsale sentenced Fisher to 15 months prison, activated the suspended sentence to run concurrently and declared 58 days presentence custody as time served with immediate parole eligibility.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Malachi Samuel Charles Fisher jailed for BWS ram raid, burglaries