A MOUNT Gambier man who broke into two commercial buildings in Mount Gambier and stole chainsaws on the same evening has been jailed for one year and 11 months.
Joshua Ryan Wagner, 31, appeared via video-link in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court last week to be sentenced for several driving and break-in offences.
The prosecution said the first offences occurred on March 6, 2017, when the defendant was still living in Victoria, however drove to Mount Gambier.
At around 11.15pm, police were called to Blue Lake City Motorcycles after reports of a break-in.
Wagner had cut the barbwire fence and climbed onto the building, before smashing the window of the premises with a rock.
He stole two chainsaws and fled the location.
Around 15 minutes later, while attending the incident at Blue Lake City Motorcycles, patrols received another call-out to a break-in at the Stihl shop on Commercial Street West.
Wagner broke the window to the building in a similar way, however on this occasion he cut his hand on the glass.
A trail of blood was found at the scene and forensic testing revealed the DNA matched the defendant’s.
When interviewed by police earlier this year, Wagner admitted the offending and said he used wire cutters to cut the fence at the first location.
On December 13, Wagner was spotted driving on Miller Street at around 11.15am.
Police attempted to stop the vehicle, however the defendant sped away.
The prosecution said Wagner drove dangerously on several streets.
When Wagner was interviewed a few days later, he admitted being the driver of the vehicle and told police he was coming down from a methamphetamine high at the time of the offending.
The last offending occurred on February 28 at around 9am when Wagner’s vehicle collided with a parked car on Mark Street.
Witnesses said Wagner conducted a sustained wheel spin for around 70 metres before crashing into the parked car.
The prosecution said the vehicle came to rest 30 metres from where the impact occurred.
Wagner ran from the scene, but when police arrived they knew the vehicle was connected to him.
A patrol parked out the front of the defendant’s property and a short time later officers saw him running towards the house.
He was apprehended and refused bail on this occasion.
The defendant’s lawyer said the offending involved acts of desperation due to an ice addiction.
Magistrate Teresa Anderson sentenced the defendant to one year and five months for the break-in and a further six months for engaging in a police pursuit.
A non-parole period of 11 months was set on the total head sentence of one year and 11 months, which was backdated to start on February 28.
Wagner was also fined a further $800 for minor offences and his licence was disqualified for two years and two months.
