Meth user Jaykin Storm Sly-Goodsall broke into Zebra Metals at Gracemere

The owners of a Rockhampton region business that has been broken into three times in three months are fed up with the barrage of attacks, with one now too fearful to stay in their nearby home.

A business owner whose premises has been the target of burglars three times in three months has been left with almost $200,000 in damages and his wife has left the family home, situated metres away from the business’ buildings, out of fear for her safety.

At least two burglars tore out CCTV cameras and computer networks, smashed up an office and workshop gear, causing more than $100,000 damage during a break in on January 14, with one being handed a probation order and a small fine by the courts.

Jaykin Storm Sly-Goodsall, 19, pleaded guilty on January 17 in Rockhampton Magistrates Court to one count of burglary and one of possessing illegal drugs.

Police prosecutor Clancy Fox said a member of family-owned business Zebra Metals was driving down Somerset Road, Gracemere, about 10.40am on January 14 when he passed a juvenile male walking along the road.

He said due to the unusualness, the witness turned around and went to check on the business premises, disturbing Sly-Goodsall “inside an open shed surrounded by damaged or stolen property”.

The pile of stolen and damage goods Sly-Goodsall was found next to when Zebra Metals business owner Ron Bowes and other witnesses uncovered the burglary in progress.

Zebra Metals owner and operator Ron Bowes told The Morning Bulletin there was more than $100,000 in damages caused from this incident and he had $80,000 of equipment stolen in another incident three months prior.

He said the business was targeted again on January 18/19 with alleged offenders taking off with a gas bottle and trolley with crab pots and fishing rods attached.

Mr Bowes said his wife was now staying in a motel as she was “too terrified to come home”.

The $200,000 of damages will not be recovered as the part-time retiree who drowned his sorrows at the pub Tuesday afternoon after Sly-Goodsall’s sentence said he did not have insurance as premiums started at $20,000 for scrap metal businesses.

After hearing of Sly-Goodsall’s sentence of two years probation and $500 compensation, Mr Bowes said the magistrate made a decision about penalty without having all of evidence - which included CCTV footage Mr Bowes had not handed to police before the sentence.

“The penalty was woefully inadequate,” he said.

“The kid has just pleaded guilty and they rushed it through the courts.

“I don’t know how they can convict someone without all of the evidence.”

What is left of a computer server burglars damaged at Zebra Metals in Gracemere on January 14-15. They caused over $100,00 in damages, from the server to MIG welders, from their destructive behaviour at the premises.

The would-be thieves from the January 14 incident broke into a demountable used as an office and smashed through everything - ripping a computer server apart, left a weigh bridge computer system in pieces, ripped the door of a safe off and ripped off CCTV cameras from the front gate and office.

Zebra Metals business owner Ron Bowes reviews the aftermath of meth-using burglars who caused over $100,00 in damages from their destructive behaviour at his Gracemere Industrial Estate premises.

In a trolley inside the shed where Sly-Goodsall was located, police found a large gas bottle, fishing rods, crab pots, brass fittings and clamps.

“In the same shed there was a power cord of a MIG welder which had been cut, power and gas cords of another MIG welder had been cut, three phase power cord had been cut and an unknown number of tools had been removed from toolboxes,” Mr Fox said.

A cut cable of a MIG welder held by Zebra Metals business owner Ron Bowes as he reviewed the aftermath of meth-using burglars who caused over $100,00 in damages from their destructive behaviour at his Gracemere Industrial Estate premises.

He said Sly-Goodsall had concealed a capsule of methamphetamines in his necklace.

Defence lawyer Pierre Lammersdorf said Sly-Goodsall, a father of one, had been caring for his sick mother but recently had a falling out with her and was now estranged from her.

He said his client had completed one year of a plumber/roofer apprenticeship but had to give it up after a workplace injury and was now looking for labouring work.

Sly-Goodsall, who had no criminal record, was placed on a two-year probation order and ordered to pay $500 compensation.

The court did not have any information regarding whether Sly-Goodsall’s co-accused was charged or not.

A safe door ripped off during a destructive burglary at Gracemere’s Zebra Metals where business owner Ron Bowes says the want-to-be thieves caused over $100,00 in damages.

Originally published as Meth user Jaykin Storm Sly-Goodsall broke into Zebra Metals at Gracemere