Dylan Digney: Invermay car theft, UTAS Newnham burglaries fuelled by meth, homelessness

A young Tasmanian man who a court heard became homeless voluntarily after his parents refused his request to house his girlfriend has pleaded guilty to 18 offences.

Dylan Robert John Digney, 24. Picture: Facebook

A young Tasmanian methamphetamine user told police he “saw a free car” when he was walking past a service station and saw an unattended vehicle with it’s keys in the ignition, a court has heard.

Launceston man Dylan John Robert Digney, 24, pleaded guilty in Launceston Magistrates Court on Wednesday to 18 offences.

Most seriously, they were the service station motor vehicle stealing, followed the same day by a serious instance of reckless driving and evading police, and a burglary spree at the University of Tasmania’s Newnham campus, which netted him hundreds of dollars worth of goods and caused thousands in damage.

Digney also pleaded not guilty to five offences, most seriously common assault and breaching a police family violence order, and possessing a dangerous article in a public place.

His offending was committed between February 20 – June 17.

On February 23, Digney, as he walked past the Coles Express service station at Invermay, saw a 2004 Ford Ranger at the bowser with its keys in the ignition, hopped in, and took it to places including the Country Club Tasmania casino at Prospect.

Later on the evening of the theft, police witnessed the vehicle idling on Peel St W and, as they exited their vehicle to speak with Digney, he “reversed rapidly, spun around... and accelerated rapidly” away, cresting 100km/h.

Interviewed the next day about the offending, Digney told officers he “saw a free car” when witnessing the keys in the ignition, that he accepted he was disqualified by a previous court order from driving, and that he left the car and keys at Invermay and that “it had likely already been taken”.

The car was recovered by police on May 3.

On March 2, Digney and an associate used a red safety hammer to smash windows of three vehicles at UTAS’ Newnham campus, causing $1300 worth of damage and stealing $470 worth of goods.

Digney’s other offending included thefts at Anaconda Launceston ($349.99), Coles Mowbray ($34.20), Myer Launceston ($56.95), Coles Kings Meadows ($88), and Bunnings Warehouse Invermay ($57).

Compensation orders were made for all of this offending, including the UTAS Newnham burglary spree.

Defence lawyer James Oxley told the court his client’s offending was the result of homelessness and daily meth use.

Follow @humidityreport

The court heard that Digney elected to become homeless after his parents declined his request to move his homeless girlfriend into the family home.

Mr Oxley said that Digney’s meth use had declined to weekly and his client hoped to boot the drug altogether. He further submitted that Digney and his partner achieved stable accommodation about three months ago, which has improved his client’s outlook.

He said that his client was heavily indebted via an $11,000 debt owing on his vehicle, which he was unable to drive due to court disqualifications, which had constricted his ability to obtain meaningful employment.

Mr Oxley said Digney was determined to be a good role model for his three-year-old daughter to a previous partner.

Magistrate Simon Brown adjourned his decision on sentence to Friday.