Bungled washing machine burglary
A MAN who left his girlfriend high and dry during a wouldbe washing machine theft has been jailed.
Clinton James Lightfoot pleaded guilty to a string of traffic and property crime offences when he fronted Townsville Magistrates Court.
Lightfoot and partner Natasha Lee Parker went into a spin when the man they were stealing from came home and caught the pair in the act.
The couple had driven to a rural property at Yabulu on November 12, 2017, cut their way through a fence, then loaded the washing machine onto a ute just as the owner arrived.
Lightfoot was confronted by the owner and dumped the machine before speeding off, leaving Parker inside the house.
Police were called and she was arrested.
Magistrate Peter Smid said Lightfoot had failed to abide a no entry sign on that day, damaged a motor vehicle, and at the time of the offence was not the holder of a licence.
Lightfoot, 32, faced 18 charges in total, relating to several incidents.
Police prosecutor acting Sergeant Tim Madsen said Lightfoot had a limited history of property- related offences.
“I think it’s fairly obviously where the problem lies, he’s got two pages of drug- related criminal history,” acting Sgt Madsen said. “Perhaps these offences are a result of financing his drug problem.”
On January 17, 2018, Lightfoot was busted by police riding a motorcycle in Yabulu without wearing a helmet, and did not stop when officers attempted to intercept him.
Lightfoot was also charged for not appearing in court at both Townsville and Moranbah.
Defence solicitor Kerri Fredericks said Lightfoot came off the motorcycle and broke his ankle that day.
Lightfoot had already spent more than a month in pre- sentence custody, which was taken into account when Mr Smid sentenced him to 18 months’ imprisonment with a parole release date of September 9, 2018.
Lightfoot was ordered to pay more than $ 10,000 in compensation and fined a total of $ 1600. He was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for two years.