A man who broke into a Belconnen lolly shop where his sister worked told a court he "turned into a piece of shit" when took drugs and was heartbroken over the pain he'd caused his family.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jeremy William Schwalm, 30, pleaded guilty to several charges of burglary and theft in the ACT Magistrates Court after he took a safe and tills from the Sugar Station lolly stand in the Belconnen shopping centre in May.
The safe held about $2360 and police said he also stole a car and a guitar, amplifier and power tools.
Schwalm gave evidence during a sentencing hearing before Justice John Burns in the ACT Supreme Court on Wednesday.
He said while he'd had some contact with his father and younger sister since the incident, he hadn't yet had the courage to contact his sister who was employed at the lolly shop.
"Basically I've let my family down and I'm heartbroken over what I've done to my sister and my family," he said.
He told the court he had been a drug addict and a criminal for much of his life and had been before the courts on numerous occasions.
"I'm turning 31 on Friday and I feel as I'm getting older, I'm getting more mature," Schwalm said.
"I was very anxious when I was released from jail. I thought, 'what if I reoffend, or what if I take drugs again'?"
Schwalm said he hadn't planned to reoffend but slipped back into taking drugs after he lost his job as a shopping centre cleaner in the months leading up to the burglary.
His Legal Aid lawyer Michael Toole said his client's ongoing drug problems played a part in his offending behaviour.
Under cross-examination from prosecutor Katrina Mackenzie, Schwalm insisted he didn't always turn to drugs and alcohol when he was under pressure.
"It's not like 100 per cent, I'm not a computer, I'm a human being," he said.
"I'm a piece of shit when I'm on drugs. Excuse my language but that's what I am."
Ms Mackenzie argued the offences were objectively serious and he was likely to reoffend.
She said the Crown had a strong case against Schwalm which relied on CCTV footage and DNA evidence.
She said he appeared to use his drug habit as an excuse for his criminal behaviour and there was no indication drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs would be effective.
Schwalm told the court he wanted to complete a heavy machinery course through the ACT's Throughcare program, which helps prisoners reintegrate into society after their release, to prepare for a job in the mining industry.
He was also keen to receive counselling for drug and alcohol abuse and mental health issues in jail and upon his eventual release.
The court heard Schwalm was under strict protection at the Alexander Maconochie Centre after he was severely assaulted in jail a couple of years ago.
Justice Burns reserved his decision and will hand down his sentence in January.
