November 14, 2018

A 19-year-old man has pleaded guilty to 22 charges linked to a month-long crime spree which included a violent home invasion in Murgon.

Ji Wilfred Henry Campbell pleaded guilty in the District Court in Kingaroy on Monday before Judge Glen Cash, QC.

Campbell was on parole for armed robbery and robbery with violence at the time the incidents occurred.

The charges included car thefts, break-ins at two hotels, fuel drive-offs, burglary, deprivation of liberty and assault occasioning bodily harm while armed.

The incidents began in Woorabinda on May 6 and ended in the Fraser Coast region on June 4.

Campbell admitted his involvement in a violent home invasion which occurred in Perkins Street, Murgon, about 8:00pm on June 3.

The court was told a 52-year-old woman living alone at the address was sitting in her lounge room when she heard the back gate open.

When she spotted Campbell in the back yard she locked the back and front doors and phoned police.

While she was on the phone, Campbell used a tomahawk to smash a glass panel on the back door.

Campbell and three accomplices then kicked the door open.

The woman was caught between the door and the wall, breaking her left arm in two places. She also suffered cuts to her foot and a black eye.

She later underwent surgery which included the insertion of a plate and screws.

While she was stuck, screaming, between the wall and door,  one of the group took her mobile phone off her and switched it off.

Campbell then placed his hand over her mouth an said: “Shut up or we will have to kill you”.

The group left the house with a handbag, keys, $55 cash, an iPhone 7 and other items.

Later the same evening, Campbell was involved in a fuel drive-off from the Murgon BP.

Campbell also admitted driving a stolen Holden Commodore dangerously in the Cherbourg area, doing burnouts and skids in the car park at Cherbourg Hospital and down the ambulance ramp.

Video of this incident, shot by a Cherbourg resident, received much media attention at the time.

On the 22 charges, Campbell was sentenced to jail terms ranging from one month to three years, to be served concurrently.

The imprisonment was added to the term Campbell resumed serving when his parole was revoked.

Judge Cash, QC, ordered that Campbell be eligible for parole on September 23, 2019.

He also disqualified him from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for six months.