news, crime,
A ram-raiding burglar who came unstuck when he went on a crime spree in a GPS-tracked government vehicle has avoided further time behind bars. Dean Simonds, 38, was handed “very complicated” sentences in the ACT Supreme Court on Friday, after committing 12 offences across several suburbs early on July 29 last year. A previously published judgment shows the carnage began about 1.10am when Simonds’ co-offender, Lee Bennett, broke into an ACT government depot in Kambah and stole a Ford Ranger. Bennett also caused significant damage while breaking into offices and cars to take other items, before driving to Simonds’ place in Phillip and giving him some of the stolen goods. Neither of them knew the Ford Ranger was fitted with a GPS tracker, which ultimately enabled police to piece together what the pair did next. At 3.39am, Bennett and Simonds drove the car to the Harvey Norman store in Fyshwick and crashed it into a wall, creating a large hole and causing more than $33,000 worth of damage. They then entered the building and stole electrical items including computers, keyboards, monitors and headsets with a total value of about $14,000. A little more than an hour later, they took the Ford to an apartment complex in Lyons, where they broke into a car park, damaged cars and stole several items. The crime spree concluded at about 7am, when Simonds filled the stolen car with $118.96 of fuel and drove away from a Weston service station without paying. Police investigating the theft of the car found Simonds with it later that morning, having travelled to the last location logged by its GPS tracker. Officers then discovered Bennett, who had posted photos of some of the stolen items on Gumtree, hiding under a mattress at his home. Both men later described having been affected by illicit drugs at the relevant time. Bennett was sentenced earlier this year to five years in jail for his role in the offending, with no possibility of parole until he has served half that time. Simonds, meanwhile, was assessed as suitable for a drug and alcohol treatment order. On Friday, Chief Justice Helen Murrell imposed on him what she described as “very complicated” sentences. In relation to 10 of the offences, including theft, property damage and driving a stolen vehicle, Simonds was sentenced to an aggregate term of nearly 16 months in jail. Chief Justice Murrell calculated and backdated that term to ensure it expired on Thursday, allowing her to impose a separate sentence to immediately take effect on the two more serious charges of aggravated burglary. For those offences, Simonds received a sentence of slightly more than two years and two months in jail. It was wholly suspended, however, upon Simonds agreeing to enter into a drug and alcohol treatment order. Chief Justice Murrell said the unusual structure of the sentences was made necessary by “incredibly unsatisfactory” legislation. Several of her colleagues have also taken issue with the relatively new laws around drug and alcohol treatment orders, saying it is unclear what benefit offenders should get for time served on remand when they are ultimately handed a suspended sentence with such an order attached.
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Ram-raider brought unstuck by GPS tracker gets ‘very complicated’ sentences
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Dean Simonds was on Friday handed “very complicated” sentences over his role in a July 2019 crime spree.
news, crime,
2020-11-20T15:44:00+11:00
https://players.brightcove.net/3879528182001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6180338991001
https://players.brightcove.net/3879528182001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6180338991001
A ram-raiding burglar who came unstuck when he went on a crime spree in a GPS-tracked government vehicle has avoided further time behind bars.
Dean Simonds, 38, was handed “very complicated” sentences in the ACT Supreme Court on Friday, after committing 12 offences across several suburbs early on July 29 last year.
A previously published judgment shows the carnage began about 1.10am when Simonds’ co-offender, Lee Bennett, broke into an ACT government depot in Kambah and stole a Ford Ranger.
Bennett also caused significant damage while breaking into offices and cars to take other items, before driving to Simonds’ place in Phillip and giving him some of the stolen goods.
Neither of them knew the Ford Ranger was fitted with a GPS tracker, which ultimately enabled police to piece together what the pair did next.
At 3.39am, Bennett and Simonds drove the car to the Harvey Norman store in Fyshwick and crashed it into a wall, creating a large hole and causing more than $33,000 worth of damage.
The hole left behind at Harvey Norman in Fyshwick by ram-raiders Lee Bennett and Dean Simonds. Picture: Andrew Brown
They then entered the building and stole electrical items including computers, keyboards, monitors and headsets with a total value of about $14,000.
A little more than an hour later, they took the Ford to an apartment complex in Lyons, where they broke into a car park, damaged cars and stole several items.
The crime spree concluded at about 7am, when Simonds filled the stolen car with $118.96 of fuel and drove away from a Weston service station without paying.
Police investigating the theft of the car found Simonds with it later that morning, having travelled to the last location logged by its GPS tracker.
Officers then discovered Bennett, who had posted photos of some of the stolen items on Gumtree, hiding under a mattress at his home.
Both men later described having been affected by illicit drugs at the relevant time.
Simonds, meanwhile, was assessed as suitable for a drug and alcohol treatment order.
On Friday, Chief Justice Helen Murrell imposed on him what she described as “very complicated” sentences.
In relation to 10 of the offences, including theft, property damage and driving a stolen vehicle, Simonds was sentenced to an aggregate term of nearly 16 months in jail.
Chief Justice Murrell calculated and backdated that term to ensure it expired on Thursday, allowing her to impose a separate sentence to immediately take effect on the two more serious charges of aggravated burglary.
For those offences, Simonds received a sentence of slightly more than two years and two months in jail.
It was wholly suspended, however, upon Simonds agreeing to enter into a drug and alcohol treatment order.
Chief Justice Murrell said the unusual structure of the sentences was made necessary by “incredibly unsatisfactory” legislation.
Several of her colleagues have also taken issue with the relatively new laws around drug and alcohol treatment orders, saying it is unclear what benefit offenders should get for time served on remand when they are ultimately handed a suspended sentence with such an order attached.
