A Mandurah man’s prison sentence has been extended after stealing a credit card and using it at a local massage parlour.
Russ Baker, 45, faced Mandurah Magistrates court via video link on Tuesday for sentencing on five matters, including two counts of benefit by fraud, two counts of stealing, possession of cannabis and possessing drug paraphernalia.
Prosecutor Constable Prest told the court that on December 28, 2020 a skateboard to the value of $120 was reported stolen in the Halls Head area.
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READ NOWThe court then heard that on January 7, 2021, Baker stole a woman’s credit card during a home burglary in Mandurah, using it at Ling’s Massage Parlour about 10pm, spending close to $300.
A search warrant was carried out at a residence in Erskine on January 13, 2021, where the stolen skateboard and credit card was located.
Constable Prest then told the court that on April 3, 2021, Baker was arrested at The Breakwater Short Stay for another matter and a subsequent search found cannabis both in a zip lock bag and freely in his car. Police also found a glass smoking pipe, with residue of methamphetamine.
Baker was taken into custody and later bailed for those offences.
Duty councillor Ms Burn said Baker had a long history of drug and alcohol abuse, and was diagnosed with PTSD after he was attacked during a home invasion in 2002.
“Mr Baker has had a lengthy history of drug and alcohol use, and slipped back into bad habits when he ceased work during the pandemic,” she said. “He has been seeking treatment programs while in custody and intends to live with his mother in Bunbury when released to turn his life around.”
Baker is currently serving time for a separate matter dealt with in the District Court, Magistrate Atkins stating she didn’t want to “add too much time to that” when handing down her sentence.
Baker was dealt an $800 fine for the stealing and drug-related charges, and sentenced to three months imprisonment for each fraud charge, to run concurrently with his present prison sentence.