A 61-year-old Devonport man with more than 100 dishonesty convictions has been sentenced to four months in prison for receiving stolen jewellery.
Garry Lindsay Armstrong was sentenced in the Supreme Court of Tasmania last month after pleading guilty to one count of receiving stolen property.
The court heard an unidentified person broke into a Nicholls Street property overnight on January 7, 2024, stealing a large quantity of jewellery.
Armstrong received some of the stolen items between January 7-18, 2024.
Police executing a search warrant at Armstrong’s home on January 18 found jewellery in his shed that was later identified as coming from the burglary.
Officers also seized Armstrong’s mobile phone.
Messages revealed he had already sold some of the jewellery and had searched online for places to offload more.
Armstrong conceded the jewellery he received was worth about $5,000.
Justice Tamara Jago said Armstrong’s criminal history was “simply astonishing”.
“I stopped counting when I reached 100 prior convictions for matters involving dishonesty,” she said.
The court heard Armstrong was released from a 10-month prison term for dishonesty offences around August 2023.
He committed this crime just four months later.
“Whilst, of course, you are not to be punished for your record, it is a substantial and relevant sentencing consideration,” Justice Jago said.
“Your record weighs against a lenient approach. Attempting to deter you from further offending is important, although it would have to be said it appears to be a difficult task.”
Justice Jago acknowledged the dollar amount was not significant but said receiving stolen property remained serious because it “supports and encourages theft”.
Armstrong was convicted and sentenced to four months’ imprisonment.
