Rockhampton’s Ashley Lawrence Wovat jailed for Gladstone Motorcycles burgary

A man previously jailed for an armed robbery of a pizza delivery employee after a three-week ice bender has again been jailed – this time for a ram raid on a motorcycle shop.

Ashley Lawrence Wovat, 34, was one of at least three offenders who used two cars stolen from Rockhampton to ram Gladstone Motorcycles about 4.35am on Wednesday, June 14.He pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on October 13 to one count of burglary by break, one of possessing a knife in public, two of stealing, two of driving while licence suspended by the State Penalty Enforcement Registry, one breach of bail and three of unlawful use of motor vehicle.

A man previously jailed for an armed robbery of a pizza delivery employee after a three-week ice bender has again been jailed – this time for a ram raid on a motorcycle shop.

Ashley Lawrence Wovat, 34, was one of at least three offenders who used two cars stolen from Rockhampton to ram Gladstone Motorcycles about 4.35am on Wednesday, June 14.

CCTV footage of a break in at Gladstone Motorcycles and the KTM Six Days motorbike stolen.

He pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on October 13 to one count of burglary by break, one of possessing a knife in public, two of stealing, two of driving while licence suspended by the State Penalty Enforcement Registry, one breach of bail and three of unlawful use of motor vehicle.

Police prosecutor Sergeant David Longhurst said the group were attempting to steal two motorcycles when they were “interrupted”.

The offenders captured on Gladstone Motorcycles CCTV.

He said they did leave the crime scene with one motorbike – a 2023 KTM 250 EXC-F Six Days worth $14,500.

The vehicles used in the ram raid were reported stolen from Rockhampton the weekend prior.

A white 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan station wagon with Queensland registration 285WBD was allegedly stolen from Norman Gardens on Sunday, June 11.

This vehicle was reported as dumped in Rockhampton, found on the morning of Thursday, June 15 with two flat tyres.

CCTV footage of the 2022 Mitsubishi Triton dual cab, stolen from Gracemere on Sunday, June 11, ramming the doors of Gladstone Motorcycles.

The other vehicle was a white 2022 Mitsubishi Triton dual cab, with Queensland registration plates DIT71, allegedly stolen from Gracemere on Sunday, June 11.

The court heard no one else has been charged in relation to this offending.

Wovat’s 15-page criminal record includes burglary in 2020, armed robbery with violence in company in 2020 and unlawful uses of motor vehicles in 2021.

Defence lawyer Samantha Legrady said her client started using marijuana when he was eight-years-old and methamphetamines at 21.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale raised concerns about marijuana use at the age of eight.

“I can’t even comprehend how an eight-year-old does that,” she said.

Ms Legrady said Wovat advised he had managed to go two to three years without using meth.

“So it’s something he knows he can do,” she said.

Ms Legrady said the father of two planned to relocate out of Rockhampton once released from prison and focus on achieving one small goal at a time rather than failing at big goals.

Ms Beckinsale sentenced Wovat to a 2.5 years prison term, disqualified him from driving for two months, declared the time served in presentence custody since June 16 as time already served and set parole release April 16, 2024.

Originally published as Rockhampton’s Ashley Lawrence Wovat jailed for Gladstone Motorcycles burgary