A man has been told there was "further growing up to do" after he went on an 18-month crime spree that included numerous burglaries of businesses during the Covid outbreak last year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Rohan Allan Rosewarne, 20, faced an ACT Supreme Court sentencing hearing on Wednesday after pleading guilty to 76 charges relating to burglaries, trespass, weapons and dangerous driving between October 2019 and April 2021.
Court documents state that other offending included arson and resisting and assaulting police.
Among the litany of burglaries, Rosewarne on March 7-13 forced entry at nine places, including two Domino's Pizza stores, three post offices, a beauty salon and the Mawson Club.
The items he stole included till trays from Denman Prospect's Domino's and Mawson Club's donation tins, raising money for bushfire relief.
He also caused $22,197 worth of damages to the club's point-of-sale computers.
There is some further growing up to do before he can really commit himself to rehabilitation.
- Crown prosecutor Elizabeth Wren
At the Hawker post office, he wore plastic bags over his shoes, gloves and face covering, and carried a sledge hammer to smash the site's glass entry door before stealing parcels.
About one month later, Rosewarne stole a Subaru Outback that he drove dangerously across the city before it was found ablaze in O'Connor.
He was seen hiding in a garden nearby watching the fire before running off.
Other places he committed burglaries included 11 residential premises across Canberra.
He also had a spare barrel for a shotgun, pointed a weapon at a man and stole a Toyota Yaris.
In January this year, police had to use Tasers to remove him from a car after refusing.
He also kicked an officer and continually resisted even after being placed in handcuffs.
MORE COURT AND CRIME NEWS
In a sentencing hearing on Wednesday, defence lawyer Sam McLaughlin said the burglary offences were unsophisticated and that the damages to both vehicles and premises were not committed to cause danger to the public.
Mr McLaughlin asked Chief Justice Helen Murrell to infer the destruction of the vehicle as destruction of evidence and that the premises damage was incidental.
Mr McLaughlin said his client's guilty pleas helping expedite the administration of justice and Rosewarne's upbringing were relevant considerations.
The court heard Rosewarne's development was "highly vulnerable" after he and his siblings were abused, deprived and neglected as children, which included not being fed properly and being exposed to drugs and alcohol.
His father's attitude towards corporal punishment led to physical pain being inflicted on him.
Crown prosecutor Elizabeth Wren disputed the defence argument that Rosewarne's guilty pleas fast-tracked the administration of justice because he initially pleaded the contrary.
She also said it took more than one year and "extensive negotiations", including a full brief of evidence, before the offender pleaded guilty.
A letter by Rosewarne was also tendered to the court, which heard he was willing to commit to rehabilitation.
However, Ms Wren said such prospects were guarded because questions about him following through were remained due to a pre-sentence report concluding he was not a model prisoner since being arrested in January.
She said she accepted that Rosewarne had a disadvantaged childhood and factors outside of his control contributing to his offending.
She said, however, that he has had four disciplinary actions taken against him while in custody, which she said "can't be ignored" in assessing his rehabilitation prospects.
"There is some further growing up to do before he can really commit himself to rehabilitation," Ms Wren said.
In pleading guilty, Rosewarne asked the court to take into account 26 of the charges in sentencing the rest.
Chief Justice Helen Murrell will deliver her sentence on September 3.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark canberratimes.com.au
- Download our app
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram