Bad day for Fanta thief who left DNA

A THIEF who broke into a children’s swimming school and stole five cans of Fanta was identified after he left blood at the scene.

Dawson Shane Albion, 18, faced Townsville Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to entering a premises and committing an indictable offence by break.

Police prosecutor Adrian Carter said Albion broke into the Little Snappers Swim School at Kelso on November 23, 2017.

“The defendant has made full admissions to entering the property and taking cans of soft drink in detail, it was five cans of Fanta which is the alleged property taken,” he said.

The court heard Albion entered the swim school through louvres and cut his stomach, leaving blood and subsequently DNA at the scene.

Mr Carter said Albion was sentenced for burglary offences earlier in the day on November 23, 2017, and released on parole, reoffending hours later.

“The message of deterrence and denunciation has not gotten across to Mr Albion, your honour,” he said.

The court heard Albion had since been given a jail sentence for a charge of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, committed after the swim school break in, and that he had been in custody since December.

Defence solicitor Zoe Navarro said Albion had a difficult upbringing and had no family in Townsville any more.

“When he was before the courts in 2017 and given that immediate release on parole, he was released, he only had $ 40, he had nowhere to live,” Ms Navarro said.

Magistrate Steven Mosch said Albion “finds himself in an extraordinary situation for five cans of Fanta”.

Mr Mosch sentenced Albion to six months’ imprisonment and set a parole eligibility date of yesterday.

“In doing so I take into account the length of time you’ve already been in custody and how much time might be involved for any application before parole was considered, there of course being a reasonable chance that you might not get parole and have to serve the sentences in full,” he said.