Jail for man who stole to support drug habit
A 28-YEAR-OLD man's remorse for his lengthy history of dishonesty offences came a little too late for a Bundaberg magistrate, who sentenced the man to 12 months jail.
Leslie James Howie pleaded guilty in Bundaberg Magistrates Court yesterday to 13 charges, including stealing, fraud and breaching a domestic violence order.
The court heard Howie committed several offences, which included stealing a motorbike from his sister, groceries from Coles and trying to pawn off some of the items to pay for his drug habit.
As Mr Zac Sarra read out his sentence, Howie interrupted, asking if there was any way he could plead his case further and avoid a stay in jail.
"My boss is expecting me back at work," he said.
But Mr Sarra said due to his "shocking" criminal history, jail was unavoidable.
Mr Sarra said he had considerably reduced the sentence due to Howie's age, remorse and that he was trying to kick his drug habit.
"You need to get off the methadone and back into the human race," Mr Sarra said.
Howie was ordered to serve varying terms of jail ranging up to 12 months with parole release on February 4 next year.
He was also ordered to pay $360 restitution.
