Ice-fuelled madness

SHEPPARTON MAN JAILED FOR BUSINESS BURGLARY SPREE WHILE ON DRUGS

A Shepparton man, 28, fell victim to the ‘‘horrible drug’’ ice when embarking on a six-week, $50 000 business burglary spree this year, a court has heard.

Tarkin Bostancioglu, formerly of Daldy Cres, was sentenced yesterday in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to 90 days’ jail and upon his release will be subject to a 12-month community corrections order, which includes 100 hours of unpaid community work.

Bostancioglu, a father of one, pleaded guilty to seven burglaries, 10 thefts, handling stolen goods, obtaining property by deception, making a false document, possessing a prohibited weapon and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

The court heard most of the crimes happened between April 15 and May 31 this year, with one business being burgled multiple times.

Bostancioglu lost his job as a result of the offending.

Items stolen included computers, electrical goods, power and hand tools, a vacuum cleaner, air conditioner, nail gun, surveying tool, power generators, clocks, CCTV systems, a car stereo, iPhones and DVD players.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Chris Cole told Magistrate John O’Callaghan the offending could only be described as a spree and that any sentence needed to reflect general and specific deterrence of such crimes.

Leading Sen Const Cole submitted that while a community corrections order was within range, a jail term should be imposed further to what Bostancioglu had already served.

Character references and a handwritten letter of apology from Bostancioglu were tendered to the court.

Bostancioglu’s lawyer Ian Michaelson said this spoke of the man’s genuine remorse for his conduct.

Mr Michaelson said Bostancioglu had co-operated with police and, while in custody, he had seen the error of his ways and recognised how destructive the drug was.

Mr Michaelson submitted that Bostancioglu had good prospects of rehabilitation and said Bostancioglu had got clean since being in custody, where he has spent 48 days since being arrested.

Mr O’Callaghan said the offending was yet another example of the destruction being caused in society by ice.

‘‘You have fallen into the thrall of ice. I see this so often and it’s becoming quite depressing,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s a horrible drug. It causes good people to do bad things.’’

Mr O’Callaghan said Bostancioglu had disappointed his family and let down his young son.

The magistrate said he accepted that Bostancioglu was remorseful for the crimes and took into account the strong support of his family in the court room for the sentencing, but said he must impose a deterrent sentence.

Mr O’Callaghan jailed Bostancioglu for 90 days, meaning he will serve another 42 days.

In addition to the community corrections order to be served on Bostancioglu’s release, Mr O’Callaghan made a compensation order for the sum of $49 535.01.