Junkie burglar in jail after police car chase

Kim Waters
A HEROIN addict is in prison after his burglary spree culminated in a safe being thrown out a car window during a police chase through Geelong.
Magistrate Michael Coghlan sentenced thirty-one-year-old Ashley Hughes, of Geelong, to 14 months jail after he pleaded guilty to 20 charges of burglary and theft.
Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Kerry Maloney told Geelong Magistrates Court Hughes broke into a bakery, a car hiring service, three hair dressing salons, two cafes and two takeaway food shops between July 13 and July 29.
Hughes stole cash, a safe, four expensive hair straighteners and soft drinks, she said.
Police arrested Hughes for the thefts, laid charges and released him on bail but busted him again two months later for burglary of Torquay’s Salted Starfish children’s clothing store.
The court heard a security guard saw Hughes speeding away from the shop in a white Commodore sedan.
Later the same night police chased the car around Geelong West and Manifold Heights at speeds up to 160 km/h, Snr Sgt Maloney said.
The pursing police saw a passenger in Hughes vehicle throw a safe containing $691.75 out of the car as the chase proceeded down Herne Hill’s McCurdy Road.
Snr Sgt Maloney said Hughes abandoned the car before police arrested him three days later.
“He told police that he knew what he had done was wrong and stated ‘It’s all for heroin’.”
Hughes’ lawyer said his client “understood the seriousness” of his crimes.
“Mr Hughes is on anti-depressants and has been diagnosed with chronic low self-esteem. Clearly he has a capacity to be a worthwhile member of society and if he can beat the addiction he should be all right.”
Mr Coghlan said Hughes’ failure to “seize the opportunities” of a credit bail program he undertook after the first thefts in July was “unfortunate”.
“You were offending to feed an addiction of heroin…and your extensively dangerous driving (was) putting other road users at risk,” Mr Coghlan said.
He sentenced Hughes to 14 months jail. Hughes will serve seven months, including time already served, before becoming eligible for bail.