Lockyer Valley burglar Joseph Paul Bygrave appears in Toowoomba Magistrates Court for multiple break and enters

A prolific burglar broke into a number of homes across the Lockyer Valley, stealing a gun safe full of weapons in one break and enter and taking some $50,000 worth of property in another.

A 44-year-old man who burgled a number of homes in the Lockyer Valley, stealing a gun safe full of weapons in one break and enter, has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Joseph Paul Bygrave appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court via video link from Wolston Correctional Centre on Monday to plead guilty to more than 30 offences including burglary, possessing a shortened firearm, stealing, receiving tainted property, unlawful possession of weapons, drugs offences and unlawfully using motor vehicles.

Police prosecutor Rohan Brewster-Webb told the court one of the burglaries of a house in Grantham had an estimated $50,000 worth of property stolen.

Joseph Paul Bygrave faced Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday December 19, 2022 where he pleaded guilty to a number of property offences.

A gun safe full of weapons was taken from another property, with only five recovered by police.

Mr Brewster-Webb described Bygrave as a “recidivist criminal” who had spent time in and out of jail since 2009.

Defence solicitor Alysha Jacobsen, of Bouchier Khan Lawyers, told the court her client’s parole had been cancelled and he was back in jail serving out a previous sentence which didn’t have a full-time date until 2024.

He had been released from prison in August 2021 and had stayed out of trouble until these matters in July 2022 after certain things “triggered” him to return to drug use.

Bygrave had started using methylamphetamine at 14 and had his first stint in jail at 17, Ms Jacbosen told the court.

The 44-year-old had been working as a unit cleaner while in jail and staying away from any drug use, she said.

Her client had a brother and sister in Western Australia and it was his intention to move there once released from prison so he would have support in the community.

Magistrate Clare Kelly took into account Bygrave had spent 149 days in custody since his arrest which couldn’t be declared and sentenced him to two-and-a-half years in jail to be served cumulatively on his current sentence, but ordered he be eligible to apply for parole as of July 23, 2023.