Shane Anthony Bailey’s offending had ‘tapered off’ in recent years, his lawyer claimed

The 38-year-old father of six pleaded guilty to seven fresh offences to be added to his already 14 pages of criminal history.

Shayne Anthony Bailey pleaded guilty in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on February 28, 2022, to his latest string of offences.

Though he had 14 pages of criminal history, Toowoomba man Shayne Anthony Bailey’s offending behaviour had “tapered off” in recent years, his lawyer told the city Magistrates Court.

The 38-year-old father of six appeared in court on Monday to plead guilty to his latest spate of offending which included unlawfully using a motor vehicle, unlicensed driving, obstructing police, stealing, possessing suspected stolen property, breaching bail and two counts of possessing dangerous drugs.

Police prosecutor Cameron Francis told the court the most serious of Bailey’s latest offences was the unlawful use of a motor vehicle on February 20, 2021, in which the car was taken from a Toowoomba residence and later found in Brisbane.

The car valued at $7772 had been written off, he said.

Mr Francis noted that since 2010, Bailey had spent most of time since either on supervisory orders or in jail.

Bailey’s lawyer Guy Sara, of Guy Sara and Associates, told the court since 2020 his client’s criminal history had “tapered off”.

“I think he’s realised that crime doesn’t pay,” Mr Sara submitted.

Bailey had been for the past four months working on a farm, he said.

Magistrate Howard Osborne sentenced Bailey to nine months in jail but ordered he be released on parole immediately.

Bailey was also fined a total $900.