Michael Shane Scibberas pleads guilty to Vella’s Fish Bar wilful damage, drug charges
A Queensland man was called a “parasite on society” after he deliberately turned off the power at a popular fish and chip shop on New Year’s Day, causing $15,000 in lost stock. DETAILS
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A 51-year-old man faced Mackay Magistrates Court for a range of offences, including sabotaging a popular fish and chippery on New Year’s Eve.
Michael Shane Scibberas pleaded guilty to going to Vella’s Fish Bar on December 31, 2023 and turning off the power, causing a loss of $15,000 in spoiled stock.
Sergeant Chris Hutchins said CCTV footage showed Scibberas committing the wilful damage at 4.45pm and said the offence was the “most significant” of his 12 charges.
The court heard he had also activated the fire alarm and stole fire panel records at Fusion Apartments on November 4 at 7pm when there was no fire reported.
Scibberas had been out on a community service order for previous drug offences when he was caught on various dates with cannabis, carfentanil, a conepiece and a pipe.
He was charged with public nuisance for banging on windows in the Mackay business district on February 26.
ATSILS lawyer Daniel Lane said Scribberas had “struggled with substance abuse his entire life” including cannabis, meth, and carfentanil – a synthetic opioid about 10,000 times more potent than morphine which Mr Lane described as being used with “elephants and rhinos”.
Mr Lane said his client had been homeless throughout this bout of offending, having lost a place staying with his sister and losing touch with people “who he used to be able to rely on”.
“He’s very remorseful for his conduct over the course of these offences,” Mr Lane said, noting Scibberas had been arrested on March 20.
Scibberas pleaded guilty to contravening his community service order, wilful damage, public nuisance, interfering with fire apparatus, stealing, trespass, failing to appear, disposing illegally of a syringe, possessing drug utensils, and three charges of possessing dangerous drugs.
‘AT 51, IT’S TIME TO GROW UP’
Scibberas said he was “trying me hardest”, claiming he had found the carfentanil on the ground, but Magistrate Damien Dwyer dismissed this entirely.
“You’re not trying your hardest at all, don’t sit there and tell me poor bugger me,” Mr Dwyer said.
“You seem to find plenty of money to buy drugs, but you can’t find yourself a home, you can’t find yourself a job.
“You’re just a parasite on society when you’ve got the ability to do something.”
Mr Dwyer notes Scibberas’ drug history went back to 1993, saying he had had “all the opportunities this community has to give you” in that time.
“And every time you put your middle finger up to us and said, well, you can stick it. I’ll keep doing what I am. Well, enough is enough,” he said.
“At 51 years of age it’s time to grow up.”
Mr Dwyer ordered Scibberas serve an intensive correction order of seven months in community with strict drug testing conditions, required drug counselling, and mandatory supervision twice a week.
Should Scibberas break those conditions or reoffend he would serve the balance of his sentence in prison, with Mr Dwyer noting “this is the last bone I’m going to throw you”.
Convictions were recorded.
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