Judge slams serial crim Repeat burglar told to grow up or risk a life ‘in and out of jail’
A RECIDIVIST offender who stole a charity tin and went on a one-man crime spree stealing $15,000 has been told by a judge to grow up.
Daniel James Holt, 39, was on bail when he broke into homes and hotel rooms and used stolen bank cards.
The Townsville District Court heard Holt was found to be in possession of two stolen Apple ipads in Cairns on February 14, 2019. The next day Holt broke into two Earlville units stealing $9300 worth of items in the first home and a laptop and 5000 yen from the second property.
Later that day, Holt broke into two hotel rooms at the Shangri-la Hotel in Cairns.
The court heard Holt stole a variety of items including an iphone, watches and a sum of New Zealand currency, American currency and euros.
Crown prosecutor
TOWNSVILLE emergency services were flat out on Saturday afternoon, with two major car crashes leaving multiple people in hospital.
The first incident occurred in Kirwan about 2.18pm, with two vehicles colliding at the intersection of Ross River Rd and Thuringowa Drive.
Two patients were trapped as a result of the crash and needed to be removed from their vehicles by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service.
The two patients were transported to hospital as a result of the incident, including a male in his 20s who had suffered fa- cial injuries.
Police are investigating the crash.
Less than half an hour later emergency services were called to a two-vehicle crash at West End.
Two vehicles collided in Stagpole St t with paramedics assessing two patients s when they arrived.
It’s believed a male in his 20s suffered d spinal injuries as a result of the incident.
The other person assessed declined d transportation after the crash.
Aaron
Dunkerton told the court that Holt then “returned to Townsville after his crime spree in Cairns” and on May 8, 2019, Holt was found to have a stolen bank card.
Holt spent $148 in nine purchases and also stole a charity tin from the Seaview Hotel.
On May 28, 2019, Holt was found to have three stolen bank cards and two days later spent $917 in Charters Towers using two more stolen bank cards.
Holt pleaded guilty to a range of offences including two counts of burglary and stealing, three counts of fraud and one count of attempted fraud.
Mr Dunkerton told the court Holt was a recidivist offender with a long criminal history starting from when he was 17 years old.
The court heard Holt had 129 previous charges including 37 offences for burglary and 20 offences for break and enter.
Defence barrister Dane Marley told the court his client fell back into drugs when he reunited with his partner and had a significant problem with methamphetamines.
Mr Marley told the court Holt started using methamphetamines intravenously at the age of 16 and his drug use was “the catalyst for his offending”.
Judge Gregory Lynham told Holt that it was time to grow up.
“Either you do something about your drug addiction … you have reached a stage in life now that you are mature enough to turn your life around, or life for you will be going in and out of jail.”
Judge Lynham took into account the 350 days spent in pre-sentence custody and sentenced Holt to four-and-a-half years’ jail to serve 18 months.
A parole date was set at November 27, 2020.
Convictions were recorded.