Shayne Anthony Bailey brought his own car battery to steal vehicle, Toowoomba Magistrates Court told

The 38-year-old stole keys to drive the car away, only to find the owner had removed its battery. However, a court was told that wasn’t enough to stop the car from being stolen.

A seasoned thief who was foiled in stealing a car when the owner removed its battery was undeterred, returning hours later with his own battery in order to complete his criminal activities.

Serial burglar Shayne Anthony Bailey was disturbed by the homeowners after breaking into a Harristown residence on September 4, 2022, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told.

The 38-year-old left the address but not before pocketing property, including keys to a car parked outside, police prosecutor Cameron Francis said.

The two women home occupants called their parents who advised them to take the battery out of the car so it couldn’t be stolen, he said.

Shayne Anthony Bailey was sentenced to jail time after pleading guilty in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on February 13, 2023, to burglary, assault occasioning bodily harm and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

However, some hours later, a male friend of the two complainants who had been called to the home saw Bailey return to the property with a battery for the car and confronted him.

Bailey punched the man four times to the face, leaving his nose bleeding and chipping a tooth, but the man got the better of Bailey who then offered an apology.

Mr Francis submitted Bailey should not be given credit for the apology as it had come only after he copped a flogging from the complainant man and that he had initially denied the incident, forcing police to compile a brief of evidence.

Bailey, who turns 39 next week, appeared via video link from prison on Monday to plead guilty to burglary, stealing, attempting to steal a motor vehicle and assault occasioning bodily harm as well as to unlawfully using a motor vehicle inside which his blood was found.

His solicitor Brad Skuse told the court his client had cut himself on a bottle and after asking a friend to take him to the hospital, that friend had turned up in a stolen car in which his client’s blood was found.

Mr Francis said Bailey had a “significant history” of stealing, unlawfully using motor vehicles and violence and submitted for a term of imprisonment of between 18 months and two years.

“It’s submitted a sentence that protects the community from this person (Bailey),” he said.

Mr Skuse said Bailey had a number of children, the youngest being 12 months of age, but conceded his criminal history went against him.

Magistrate Louise Shephard noted Bailey was subject to parole at the time of these offences but declared 162 days pre-sentence custody as time already served.

Ms Shephard sentenced Bailey to 18 months in jail and a further 12 months for the assault occasioning bodily harm but ordered he be eligible to apply for release on parole as of March 3.