Matthew Scott Whistler Street, 35, of Goulburn pleaded guilty to aggravated breaking and entering a dwelling in company and stealing, taking and driving a conveyance without consent, entering premises without a lawful excuse, and supplying a prohibited drug when he appeared by audio-visual link in Goulburn Local Court on July 12.

Street and another man, Bronson Leigh Collins, 29, of Goulburn, broke into various properties in the district in February this year stealing a large array of items, police facts stated. Collins pleaded guilty to the matter in May.

Between 8.30pm and 10.11pm on February 19, Street and Collins broke into a shed at the Royal Oak Pastoral Company on the Crookwell Road and stole several Ryobi power tools (grinders and drills) and an ammunition reloading press.

Around the same period (February 17 to 20), Street and Collins also entered a property on Annies Lane, Woodhouslee and stole a Yamaha 350 quadbike. They put it on a box trailer to steal it along with an assortment of power tools and a Davey fire-fighting pump.

Then at another property on Rossiville Road, they broke into a shed and stole power tools and a Heiniger shearing hand-piece. Around this time, they entered a property on Onlsow Road, Kingsdale, and stole a Husqvarna chainsaw and spray-painting equipment from sheds and shipping containers.

When police arrested Street, he directed them to stolen property at his house. The quad bike was recovered at an address in Goulburn.

In court, Street’s solicitor said her client had had depression following the death of his father. “Mr Street made full admissions and assisted police, directing police to the stolen property,” the solicitor said. “He has been in custody since May 4 and is genuinely remorseful for his actions.” 

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie said the offences were particularly serious given the reliance by people on the equipment in operating properties for their livelihood. “They should be able to store items without being vulnerable,” Ms Beattie said. 

She sentenced Street three years’ jail with a non-parole period of 18 months.

Street was also convicted for five counts of supplying drugs, which were detected under Operation Trinculo. 

He was also convicted on charges of breaking and entering premises in Goulburn and taking a car.