April 26, 2012
A Blackbutt man who pleaded guilty to a string of charges dating back to 1995 was sentenced to 21 months jail in Kingaroy Magistrates’ Court today.
David Thomas Van Stralen, 44, faced 16 counts of stealing, three of break and enter and eight of false pretences, all relating to offences committed in the Mackay region.
He also faced one count of unlicensed driving, two of breaching bail, one of possession of suspected stolen property and four drug charges.
Police said Van Stralen had failed to appear in court in 1996 and fled interstate to NSW.
The drug charges related to a police search at Blackbutt on February 23 this year where cannabis, a bong and a grinder were allegedly located.
Magistrate W.A. Cridland said Van Stralen had a lengthy criminal history from both NSW and Queensland and had been sentenced to periods of imprisonment on previous occasions.
“He has almost a continuing history from 1985 up to the last entries from NSW in July 2009. He now has fresh charges relating to drugs matters before the court in Queensland,” he said.
The theft charges were “quite serious” as Van Stralen had taken advantage of his employment as a painter when there would have been an expected element of trust, he said.
On the charge of unlicensed driving Van Stralen was fined $250. On the theft, false pretences and break and enter charges he was sentenced to 18 months jail. On the drug charges, he was sentenced to six months jail. These sentences will be served concurrently.
For breaching bail, he was sentenced to three months jail. However the Magistrate declared that the 83 days Van Stralen had already been held in custody would be counted as time served. He will be eligible for parole on September 4.
Van Stralen was also ordered to pay $5714 restitution.
