Ice addict ‘gained very little’ from $65,000 Glenorchy burglary

An ice addict with a troubled upbringing marked by tragedy has learned his fate after a Glenorchy burglary he gained little from, other than a battery-operated toy car and some clothing.

A YOUNG father will spend a year in jail after breaking in to a Glenorchy woman’s home and stealing $65,000 of her possessions in a bid to obtain the “insidious” drug ice.

In January last year, Dylan Kenneth Donald Meares and another man entered the Tolosa Street property and stole the woman’s car, wallet, credit cards, handbags, jewellery, clothing, foreign currency and electronic equipment.

That afternoon, police found the woman’s Audi car at a Goodwood car park before locating some of her possessions at neighbouring Glenorchy property, the Supreme Court of Tasmania heard.

The following day, the woman told police her stolen credit card had been used for $450 of fraudulent purchases.

Police obtained CCTV footage from Woolworths and identified Meares making purchases.

They searched his Glenorchy home and found a child’s battery-operated car, which matched the description of one stolen from the woman’s home.

Justice Stephen Estcourt said Meares, 24, had an “unfortunate” upbringing and once had his jaw broken by his mother following the death of his younger brother.

“It was not uncommon for the defendant to go days without food,” Justice Estcourt said.

The judge added after attempting to take his own life, Meares was introduced to the drug ice.

“He quickly became addicted, and the present offending was for the purpose of obtaining more of that insidious drug,” he said.

“He gained very little from the crimes, all but the remote controlled car and some clothes, having been kept by his co-offender who he has not seen since the day of the offending.”

Meares pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and stealing and was convicted of the summary offences of car theft and seven counts of computer-related fraud.

He was jailed for 10 months, with five months suspended, and had two previously suspended sentences activated, adding an extra seven months to his time behind bars.