Drugs fuel crime spree
CHRISTOPHER Paul Lowden stole cars, broke into homes and used strangers’ credit cards in a 12-month drugfuelled crime spree.
He walked from court yesterday after being granted immediate parole.
Lowden came to light when the Bulletin revealed in June he was one of two people in Bronson “Lizard Man” Ellery’s apartment the night Ellery bludgeoned girlfriend Shelsea Schilling to death in November 2016.
Lowden, 24, yesterday pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court to a string of fraud, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, entering a dwelling to commit an indictable offence and trespass charges.
Magistrate Andrew Sinclair said in sentencing: “He effectively went into a drug-fuelled crime spree.”
Mr Sinclair sentenced Lowden to 10 months prison but allowed him to walk from court on immediate parole.
“You got into people’s houses, stole their keys or credit cards, went around using their credit cards and driving their vehicles,” Mr Sinclair said.
The crime spree ended when Lowden went into custody in late 2016, after he was accused of committing a violent home invasion with Ellery.
Lowden cannot be charged in relation to Ms Schilling’s death because Queensland does not have a bystander responsibility law, meaning a person who fails to rescue someone in need cannot face prison.
Lowden spent 14 months behind bars before home invasion charges were dropped in May this year. Since his release, Lowden has moved back in with his parents and has been working as an electrician’s assistant for his father.
Defence barrister Robert Gordon, instructed by Dibb and Associates, said Lowden had a drug problem.
“He first started using (drugs) at 14 which increased significantly until he was using ice and fantasy on a daily basis,” Mr Gordon said.
“At the time of this offending he was couch surfing … he was associating with the wrong crowd. He is no longer associating with those people.”
Mr Gordon argued because Lowden had served 14 months prison for charges which had been dropped, any sentence should be shortened.
The magistrate said he would reduce the sentence length but wanted Lowden to be supervised in the community. He ordered Lowden report to probation and parole by the close of business yesterday and submit to any drug tests required.