Bunbury teen Errol Martin sentenced to community based order after crime-spree filmed on phone

A Bunbury man who moved to Karratha to find a job has been sentenced to an eight month community based order in relation to a string of burglaries and trespasses, which were filmed by his co-accused

Errol Martin, 18, appeared before the Karratha Magistrates Court on October 12 charged in relation to a series of burglaries and trespasses in South Bunbury on May 13.

The court was told at about 5.20pm the 18-year-old attempted to jimmy open a window and french doors of a property while his co-accused filmed it on his phone.

Then at 5.30pm and 6pm the pair committed two more trespasses which were both filmed on the co-accused phone.

About 6.20pm at Kalari Rise in Bunbury the pair looked around a property before Martin smashed a back window and stole $4000 worth of jewellery, a Samsung mobile phone, surf board cover and a knife worth $150.

Martin’s lawyer Simon Da Silva said his client was in a poor mental state at the time following the death of a relative.

He said Martin lost his mother when he was 11 and was raised by his aunties.

“He feels quite bad for breaking in and trespassing,” he said.

“He is willing to do whatever it takes to get his life back on track and make amends.”

Mr Da Silva said his client moved to Karratha to find a job and would be moving to Geraldton for hand surgery following an injury.

Karratha Magistrate Cillian Stockdale said he was at a loss to understand why the offending occurred.

He said the nature of the offending was disconnected to the behaviour of grieving for the loss of a family member.

Mr Stockdale said Martin had a juvenile record and was no stranger to this behaviour but there had been a slow down in offending since 2018.

“You are not in the children’s court anymore,” he said.

“There’s terms of imprisonment for aggravated burglary of up to 20 years.

“Penalties are severe because people’s homes need to be protected.”

Mr Stockdale sentenced Martin to an eight month community based order with the requirement he complete 20 hours of community service.

As part of the sentence Mr Stockdale imposed requirements of drug counselling and psychologist appointments.