William Joseph Mitchell’s violent home invasion for drug money

A Central Queensland drug addict was captured on CCTV carrying out a home invasion while armed with a ‘golden baton’.

William Joseph Mitchell, 43, pleaded guilty on December 6 in Rockhampton District Court to one count of burglary, one of armed robbery in company and one of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

A drug addict who used a golden baton to threaten occupants during a home invasion has a $105,000 NDIS package and he doesn’t recall why.

William Joseph Mitchell, 43, pleaded guilty on December 6 in Rockhampton District Court to one count of burglary, one of armed robbery in company and one of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Crown prosecutor Stephanie Barker said Mitchell had befriended one of the victims prior to the home invasion.

She said the offenders – Mitchell and an unidentified co-offender – broke into the Berserker residence about 10pm on September 11, 2021, stealing car keys from a resident in the downstairs part of the building before proceeding upstairs.

Ms Barker said Mitchell was armed with a golden baton when he was confronted by the man he had previously befriended.

She said Mitchell told the man to hand over his money.

Ms Barker said the victim handed his wallet to Mitchell, who took out $1000 cash before throwing the wallet back at the victim.

The court heard the co-accused punched a female occupant during the home invasion and the car keys belonged to third occupant.

Mitchell and the co-offender took off in the third occupant’s white sedan.

The court heard the co-offender wore a face mask and a cap lowered over his face to conceal his identity while Mitchell only wore a cap, but not lowered.

Judge Jeff Clarke said it seemed some of this offending was “clearly a planned, premeditated, violent home invasion and robbery”.

The court heard the pair was on CCTV and Mitchell’s fingerprints were found by investigators.

Ms Barker said police located the stolen vehicle with false plates at a Norman Gardens residence.

Defence barrister Maree Willey said her client was using drugs at the time of the offending.

“It was a low point in his life,” she said.

“He was under the influence of methamphetamines at the time.

“He was seeking money to purchase further drugs.”

Ms Willey said Mitchell was “not beyond rehabilitation”, instructing he had been diagnosed with depression, borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia six years ago and had since been approved for almost $105,000 in NDIS support.

“Over the years, he has spent time in the mental health unit,” she said.

Ms Willey said Mitchell’s NDIS package was approved in March 2021 and despite having three meetings with Mitchell in the lead up to the sentence and undertaking other avenues of inquiries, she was not able to obtain information as to why he has been given an NDIS package.

She said the documentation available referred to Mitchell having a disability, but not what it was.

Ms Willey said it was known that Mitchell had some difficulties with his memory and attention and he had informed his lawyers he had some electric shock treatment some years ago.

She said the NDIS package seemed to assist him in the community by way of housing, support in the house, medical appointments and specialist appointments.

Ms Willey said Mitchell did not follow up this NDIS package after it was approved in March 2021 as he was using drugs at the time and “found the whole thing overwhelming and wasn’t sure what to do”.

She said she had been handed a letter showing there was support to help Mitchell navigate the NDIS package when he was released from prison.

Ms Willey said Mitchell also had support from his mother and his long-term on and off partner, who was the mother of his 10-year-old child.

She said Mitchell had a longstanding drug abuse issue, starting with marijuana, then increasing to alcohol and methamphetamines.

She said despite the drug usage and habit, he had held employment working in concreting, labouring and at the meatworks.

Judge Clarke said Mitchell’s criminal record was predominantly for drug, property and dishonesty offences, “including a propensity for offences of burglary and unlawful use of motor vehicles”.

He said at the time of this offending, Mitchell was wanted on a warrant after he breached court orders, had failed to appear in court and breached bail.

Mitchell was sentenced in October 2022 in Rockhampton Magistrates Court for offences committed in May 2020 and December 2021.

Judge Clarke sentenced Mitchell to a four-year prison term to run concurrently with the magistrates court sentence, declared 370 days presentence custody and set parole eligibility from April 1, 2023.

Originally published as William Joseph Mitchell’s violent home invasion for drug money