Geraldton man Graham Alexander Maskrey sentenced for $20,000 theft

A 39-year-old Geraldton man who stole $20,000 worth of property from a Mandurah home last year has escaped immediate imprisonment after he was sentenced to a suspended jail term. Graham Alexander Maskrey pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and one count of stealing in the Geraldton Magistrates Court on Monday. Prosecution Sergeant Paul Birkinshaw told the court Maskrey entered the victim’s house through a spare bedroom window on June 2 while no one was home. He stole music records, jewellery, a mountain bike, sports memorabilia, an electric scooter, Xbox and PlayStation to the value of $20,000. The victim reported the burglary to police on June 6 upon returning home. Sgt Birkinshaw said Maskrey sold vinyl records to an unsuspecting buyer online, which the victim noticed was theirs and reported Maskrey’s phone number to police. Police found DNA evidence at the Halls Head home which matched Maskrey’s. Defence lawyer Andrew Robson said Maskrey had battled drug addiction and was using methamphetamine at the time of the burglary. Mr Robson said Maskrey had gone into voluntary rehab and since found a job. Magistrate Angus Hockton said Maskrey’s employment was one of the only reasons he wasn’t immediately sent to jail. Maskrey has more than $30,000 in outstanding fines and performed “atrociously” on a community-based order imposed for another burglary six-and-a-half years ago, according to Mr Hockton. Maskrey only completed one hour of community service out of the imposed 100. Mr Hockton said Maskrey “wasn’t suitable” for community supervision and sentenced him to an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. Maskrey was also ordered to pay $20,000 in compensation to the victim.