New job saves thief from time in prison

A NEW job and counselling had put Adrian Joseph Howe back on track and probably saved him from time behind bars.

Howe, 32, had endured a difficult upbringing and lived through a number of setbacks that left him angry and susceptible at times to alcohol and drug use, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

He was also led into offending including a role with others in the burglary of a Kearneys Spring home on the night of March 17.

The home owner had woken the next morning to find her house broken into and a number of items taken including a television, two laptop computers, a wrist watch, a handbag and wallet containing credit cards, police prosecutor Constable Mike Orth said.

The next day, Howe had used a stolen credit card to obtain food, DVDs and fuel at various stores in Toowoomba.

Cost of damage and loss in the break-in amounted to $4529 of which the prosecution sought one-quarter from Howe, the court heard.

Howe pleaded guilty to those offences as well as to disqualified driving on March 18, driving with a breath/alcohol reading of 0.19 while disqualified on Short St on July 22 last year and to breaching a probation order he was on at the time.

His solicitor Shane MacDonald told the court his client had spent 56 days in pre-sentence custody and agreed with a prosecution submission that his client be afforded immediate parole.

His client had endured a number of setbacks in his life, but was now working and attending counselling, Mr MacDonald said.

Magistrate Kay Ryan sentenced Howe to four months jail, but ordered he be released immediately on parole.

Howe was disqualified from driving for three-and-a-half years.