Meth-user Cooper Grant David Silvester broke into Rockhampton pool

A daily methamphetamines user who stole two cars, including one from a police holding yard, was only captured by police when he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a fence.

Cooper Grant David Silvester (middle) used a sign to smash a window to gain access to the Rockhampton Regional Council owned 2nd War Memorial Aquatic Centre in Wandal on April 27, 2022, about 2.30am.He then used a sunscreen bottle and wheelie bin to clear the excess shattered window before kicking away glass while climbing through and into the office.

A daily methamphetamines user nabbed for the 2022 war memorial pool complex break-in went on to steal a car twice – the second time from a police holding yard – and was not caught by police until he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a fence, a court heard.

Cooper Grant David Silvester, 23, used a nearby sign to smash a window to gain access to the Rockhampton Regional Council owned 2nd War Memorial Aquatic Centre in Wandal on April 27, 2022, about 2.30am.

He then used a sunscreen bottle and wheelie bin to clear the excess shattered window before kicking away glass while climbing through and into the office.

Cooper Grant David Silvester, 23, used a nearby sign to smash a window to gain access to the Rockhampton Regional Council-owned 2nd War Memorial Aquatic Centre in Wandal on April 27, 2022, about 2.30am. He then used a sunscreen bottle and wheelie bin to clear the excess shattered window before kicking away glass while climbing through and into the office.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Sarah Rowe told Rockhampton Magistrates Court on August 22 that Silvester continued causing “significant damage” by smashing a steel frame doorway into an electrical room to gain entry to a safe bolted to the floor.

Damage to the Rockhampton Regional Council-owned 2nd War Memorial Aquatic Centre in Wandal on April 27, 2022.

She said he then used a screwdriver to try to take a digital keypad off the safe.

Court documents viewed by The Morning Bulletin state Silvester also discharged a powder fire extinguisher throughout the office and electrical room, with powder also ending up the kitchen and storage rooms.

Silvester was identified through DNA left on the screwdriver.

Cooper Grant David Silvester, 23, used a nearby sign to smash a window to gain access to the Rockhampton Regional Council-owned 2nd War Memorial Aquatic Centre in Wandal on April 27, 2022, about 2.30am. He then used a sunscreen bottle and wheelie bin to clear the excess shattered window before kicking away glass while climbing through and into the office.

Seven months later, in November, Silvester broke into the underground carpark of The Rocks Apartments on Victoria Parade, Rockhampton, stole car keys and stole a car.

After the New Year, he was busted driving a stolen Volkswagen Amarok ute belonging to JA Engineering Pty Ltd, which had been stolen sometime over the Christmas and New Year period, recovered by police on January 6 and placed the police holding yard at Fitzroy Towing.

Silvester parked the stolen ute at the Ski Gardens at Alton Downs for a few days before driving it to Maryborough and Bundaberg where he attempted to enter the premises of Princess Car Wash before returning to Rockhampton.

He was arrested at the Glenmore Tavern on February 8 and found in possession of 6.16 grams of meth, tainted property, drug utensils and a flick knife.

Silvester then went on a crime spree in April and May, receiving tainted property in the form of car keys, driving stolen cars while his driver’s licence was suspended by the State Penalties Enforcement Registry, evading police by driving off at high speeds, and using false registration plates.

Senior Constable Rowe said the defendant and a co-offender broke into the police holding yard at Fitzroy Towing on May 5, “arrogantly” stealing seized stolen cars and going on to commit another set of unlawful use of motor vehicle, drive while licence SPER suspended and evade police offences.

Magistrate Grace Kahlert said police caught up with Silvester after he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a fence in a stolen car.

Police searched a unit on Victoria Parade on May 6, in possession of 1.6 grams of methamphetamines, drug utensils and suspected stolen property.

Silvester told police he used drugs daily.

“You need to do something about your drug problem,” Ms Kahlert said.

She said Silvester’s offending, which spanned over a year, was protracting and concerning, having impacts on the community with the damage to the aquatic centre and his driving behaviour, where he ran red lights and excessively sped off from police.

Defence lawyer Pierre Lammersdorf said his client, who started smoking marijuana when he was 14 years old and then moved onto meth, was still supported by family, namely his mother, who is a nurse and his sister and her boyfriend.

He said Silvester’s father was incarcerated and had no contact with him.

Cooper Grant David Silvester, 23.

Mr Lammersdorf said his client attended Emmaus College until Year 10 and completed a three-year construction apprenticeship, but had been out of work for the past two years.

Silvester pleaded guilty to 43 charges, including three unlawful uses of motor vehicles, five enter premises and commit an indictable offences, one of enter premises with intent to commit an indictable offence, one of attempt to enter a premise with intent to commit an indictable offence, three evade police, two drive without due care and attention, five driving while SPER suspended, along with charges relating to receiving stolen goods, possessing drugs and drug utensils.

Damage to the Southside Pool Kiosk.

He also pleaded guilty to four breaches of bail and two fail to appear in court offences.

Silvester had an 11-page criminal record and had been on a seven-day suspended sentence at the time of the aquatic centre offences, which was fully activated by Ms Kahlert.

Silvester was sentenced to 2.5 years prison with 108 days presentence custody declared as time already served.

His parole release is set for December 6.

He was also sentenced to an 18-month prison term, wholly suspended and operational for three years for the aquatic centre break in.

Silvester was also disqualified from driving for six years and six months.

Originally published as Meth-user Cooper Grant David Silvester broke into Rockhampton pool