Benjamin Isaac Devitt sentenced in Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to Adelaide CBD theft, assault

A man with a serious meth addiction stole items from a CBD retailer, assaulted workers and threw stones at cars before being brought down at gunpoint.

A man who went on a wild theft rampage in the CBD, throwing stones at cars and was eventually arrested at gunpoint has been sentenced for a litany of drug-induced offences.

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Benjamin Isaac Devitt, 46, from Ingle Farm, pleaded guilty to a number of offences in February including breaching bail, theft and assault – culminating in a dramatic gunpoint arrest in the CBD.

Patrick Deegan, for Devitt, told Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal his client’s offending was “intrinsically caused by drug use”.

“You developed a significant methylamphetamine addiction since 2022 and that might explain, but doesn’t excuse, some of your offending,” Judge Hribal said.

“I’m told you’re apologetic for your offending and you want that conveyed to your victims.

“You’ve got to the point now in your criminal history that if you continue offending, you’re going to be spending more and more time in custody.

“It’s over to you Mr Devitt – it’s important that you’ve learnt it’s been quite a long term for you in custody. If you continue to offend that’s where you’ll end up.”

Police were called to Franklin St in February after reports of a disturbance about 5.20pm.

They allege Devitt entered a shop and stole goods before two staff members – who attempted to stop him – were assaulted.

Benjamin Devitt was arrested at gunpoint following a wild crime spree in the CBD. Picture: Facebook

Benjamin Devitt was arrested at gunpoint following a wild crime spree in the CBD. Picture: Facebook

He allegedly fled the store while police received reports that a man was throwing stones at passing vehicles on Franklin St.

Police found Devitt on Mellor St and he was arrested at gunpoint after being ordered to the ground.

At his first appearance, Devitt launched a tirade at a magistrate when he was denied bail, and a week later he was ordered to stay behind bars after his property was deemed “in a state of disrepair”.

On Wednesday, the court heard Devitt had stolen an eftpos machine, iPad, MacBook laptop, grocery items, chargers and a pair of sunglasses from various different CBD shops during his February crime spree.

It also heard he told a business owner trying to stop him from fleeing he was “going to get shot”.

Judge Hribal sentenced Devitt to 12 months imprisonment with a non-parole period of one month and 28 days – suspended upon entering into an 18-month good behaviour bond.

With time in custody, he was released on Wednesday.

She declined to order any compensation to the victims.

Originally published as Benjamin Isaac Devitt sentenced in Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to Adelaide CBD theft, assault