Brady Wheldon: Launceston man further jailed for offending

A young Tasmanian man who has never held a job, is functionally illiterate and can’t get off the ice pipe will remain behind bars after offending while on parole. WHAT HE DID >>

A young Tasmanian man whose life has been “blighted by drugs and crime” will remain behind bars after committing a series of petty offences while on parole.

Ravenswood man Brady Leigh Wheldon, 23, was sentenced in Launceston Magistrates Court on Tuesday after previously pleading guilty to charges including motor vehicle stealing, computer-related fraud, and stealing.

The court heard Wheldon was on parole following a three-year custodial sentence for driving offences at the time of the current offending.

On October 17 last year, Wheldon was handed a stolen debit card in the carpark of Coles Newstead which he used to purchase cigarettes, a lighter and a soft drink, totalling about $90, as well as another soft drink and packet of cigarettes from the Newstead Hotel bottle shop.

On the night of December 2-3, a Subaru Liberty was stolen from Foch St, Mowbray, with CCTV capturing Wheldon driving the vehicle driving into the Launceston Airport carpark about 7am on December 3.

Breaking News Breaking News Ravenswood man Brady Leigh Wheldon, 23. Picture: Facebook

The Subaru parked beside a Toyota HiLux and the passenger of the Subura gained entry to the utility.

Wheldon then attempted to exit the carpark making numerous attempts with his parking ticket, but when that failed, he blew through the boom gate.

Police subsequently discovered Wheldon’s fingerprints on the discarded parking ticket.

Three days later, on December 6, Wheldon pumped $75 worth of petrol at BP Wellington St and made no effort to pay.

Wheldon was arrested and charged on December 23, 2021.

He has remained in custody since, serving out his previous sentence.

It was submitted on Wheldon’s behalf that he had spent the “vast majority” of his adult life in custody, had never worked, and was functionally illiterate and struggled with substance abuse and addiction, especially to ice and cannabis.

His supportive mother was moving interstate and Wheldon hoped to make the move with her, as he felt “peer pressured” by his northern acquaintances to consume drugs and offend.

Magistrate Simon Brown said Wheldon’s life had been “blighted by drugs and crime” and that he was still a young man to have spent so long behind bars.

He sentenced Wheldon to 28 days’ imprisonment, cumulative on his existing sentence, and disqualified his driver’s licence cumulative on his existing disqualification.