Fire looter avoids jail
A FORMER Huon Valley resident who broke into homes during January’s bushfire evacuations, pinching toilet paper, a sewing machine and country music CDs, told police his intuition made him steal objects and “set them free”.
Jeremy Alexander Godwin, 42, pleaded guilty yesterday to several charges in the Hobart Magistrates Court but Magistrate Reg Marron decided not to record a conviction.
A FORMER Huon Valley resident who broke into several homes during January’s bushfire evacuations, stealing toilet paper, a sewing machine and country music CDs, told police his intuition made him steal objects and “set them free”.
Jeremy Alexander Godwin, 42, drove through Police Point with his dog on January 28 this year while fires raged nearby.
He entered empty houses and stole a range of “bizarre” and low-value items including a bucket of tea bags, chainsaws, tools, a radio, an outboard motor and a jerry can.
He pleaded guilty yesterday to several charges in the Hobart Magistrates Court including burglary, stealing, trespass, resisting a police officer, attempted aggravated burglary and common assault.
His pet cat has just been put down, which left him in grief and his bank account emptied, the court heard.
When the fire came close to his home and his relationship came under strain, Godwin suffered a “disease of the mind” and was “tipped over the edge”, the court was told.
A number of residents had evacuated their homes in locations such as Delaney Lane, Esperance Coast Road and Police Point Road before Godwin entered through unlocked doors or broke through closed entrances. Godwin then stashed the stolen items under the canopy of his ute tray.
One witness told Godwin he would call police, but the thief answered: “they won’t come, they’re too busy fighting fires”.
When he was finally arrested that night, Godwin was violent toward police.
His vehicle was confiscated and he was taken to the Hobart police station, where he told officers he had a short-term goal and a long-term goal. He said his short-term goal was to take objects he needed such as food, toilet paper and tea bags, whereas his long-term goal was to secure items for the future or to “set them free”.
He also said his intuition had guided him to steal and that it was the same power he had that allowed him to heal animals.
Legal Aid lawyer Brittany Clark said Godwin went into custody for 40 days after the break-ins, spending a period of time at the Wilfred Lopes Centre for Forensic Mental Health.
He has since moved to New South Wales and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Magistrate Reg Marron accepted that Godwin was remorseful and was trying to rebuild his life after the “aberration” in his behaviour.
He decided not to record a conviction, but ordered Godwin be of good behaviour for three years and continue receiving medical treatment.