Drug-addicted burglar left fingerprints at every crime scene

An opportunistic thief who stole random items, including a pantry door and a wall fern, has been jailed for his crimes which were committed to feed his drug addiction.

An opportunistic thief who stole random items, including a pantry door and a wall fern, has been jailed for his crimes which were committed to feed his drug addiction.

Jacob Dimech, 27, pleaded guilty on July 16 in Rockhampton Magistrates Court to two counts of receiving tainted property, two wilful damage, two enter dwelling and commit indictable offence and one of breaching bail.

The court heard Dimech stole a microwave, plumbing goods from Trade Link Plumbing, pantry door, light bulbs, hinges, metal towel racks, a wall fern and a glass window pane from unoccupied houses.

The tainted property he received included fishing rods and tools.

He wilfully damaged a door, front security screen door and a plastic light cover.

The crimes were carried out between April 23 and May 26, 2020.

Defence lawyer Grant Cagney said these were low level, opportunistic burglaries which featured a lack of planning and involved Dimech leaving fingerprints at every location.

He said Dimech committed the offences to feed his drug addiction which he had struggled with.

He said his client had managed to stay clean for about six months, however had relapsed.

Mr Cagney said Dimech still had family support including his mother who sat in the back of the court, crying, during his sentencing.

He said Dimech had two children and had worked as a tyre fitter and constructing sheds.

Mr Cagney said Dimech had been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and had been recommended to see a psychologist.

He said his client was on parole for other burglaries when he committed these offences, and while his parole had not yet been suspended, it would automatically be once the sentence was handed down.

Mr Cagney asked for immediate parole eligibility as the latest advice about the parole board delays was applications submitted now would not be heard for six to eight months, which Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale confirmed she had also heard with her latest advice being applications would not be heard until February.

Ms Beckinsale sentenced Dimech to 18 months’ prison, declared 50 days pre-sentence custody and gave him immediate parole eligibility.

Originally published as Drug-addicted burglar left fingerprints at every crime scene