Teen burglar behind bars
Penchant for breaking into homes
A TOOWOOMBA teenager with a growing criminal history of burglary and unlawfully using motor vehicles has been jailed for his latest stint of offences.
Montel Carlos Jordan Hooper had a penchant for breaking into homes, stealing items such as car keys which were used to take cars but at most sites he left DNA such as fingerprints linking him to the crime.
The 19-year-old was jailed in May after pleading guilty in Toowoomba Magistrates Court to a string of burglary, stealing and motor vehicle offences.
Released on parole on July 8, the teenager was back committing similar offences within two weeks, the same court was told.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Natalie Bugden said Hooper and associates had committed a number of burglaries in Toowoomba including at least two when they were confronted by the house occupants who were at home at the time.
In the early hours of July 20, Hooper and associates stole a Jaguar XE from the driveway of a Glenvale home, Sgt Bugden said.
When the Jaguar was found on July 26, police located fingerprints on the dashboard which were ultimately found to be Hooper’s, she said.
Hooper appeared via video link from Woodford Correctional Centre to plead guilty to 17 offences which included six of burglary, four of unlawfully using motor vehicles, two of possessing tainted property and one each of stealing, disqualified driving, contravening a police direction and attempted entering a premises.
Sgt Bugden said all but three of the offences predated Hooper’s sentence in July and had all been dealt with at that time he would have possibly received 18 months jail instead of 12.
Hooper’s solicitor Brad Skuse said the delay in having these matters finalised stemmed from forensic investigation of the fingerprints.
His client, who turns 20 next month, realised that drug use was behind his offending.
“He’s aware he has to address his drug issues and his peer group,” Mr Skuse told the court.
Upon release from prison, his client intended on returning to Toowoomba where he had family, he said.
Magistrate Louise Shephard took into account the 126 days Hooper had spent in pre-sentence custody and sentenced him to 12 months in jail but ordered he be released on parole on January 21, 2023.
Hooper was also sentenced to a fully suspended 12 months jail term and disqualified from driving for two years.