'Same overall criminal enterprise': burglars of historic Commonwealth building spared jail time

Two men who tried to steal copper wire from a Commonwealth building have escaped prison time.

Wayne Robert Blundell, 48, and Bradley Clyde Booth, 32, appeared before the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday (6 February).

Both men were sentenced at the same time by Justice Belinda Baker for what she described as coming “out of the same overall criminal enterprise”.

The group stopped briefly at a service station in the early hours of 5 May 2024 before heading to the Belconnen Naval Transmitting Station (BNTS) in Lawson.

Justice Baker said the property was surrounded by a fence that was topped with barbed wire. The group gained entry by driving through an existing hole in the fence.

Once inside the site, the group used various tools – such as torches, rope and power saws – that they had brought with them as they searched for copper wires.

Justice Baker said one of the men reversed the ute through a door while others pulled up some of the flooring to see if there were wires in the floor.

Shortly after the group arrived at the BNTS, police were called.

“They approached the workshop where they could hear a vehicle revving its engine and honking its horn,” she said.

On their arrival, they arrested Blundell and another man.

Booth then got back into the ute and fled, driving through a fence. This behaviour led to a charge of driving while disqualified.

He was found by police more than a month later.

Booth, along with Blundell, was also charged with aggravated burglary in company and damaging Commonwealth property by joint commission.

Justice Baker said their offending, while not sophisticated, caused “significant damage” to the BNTS and exposed hazardous material.

The site is owned by Defence Housing Australia and is heritage-listed.

“The likelihood of people being physically present at the premises of the time of the offending, which was in the early hours of the morning, was small,” she said.

In sentencing the men, Justice Baker said that while their roles were “relatively identical”, their motivations for being involved differed.

At the time, Blundell was under “considerable financial and emotional strain” after purchasing a secondhand car that needed repairs.

He is a carer for his young grandchild, and the court heard that the car was necessary for caring for the child and taking them to appointments.

Justice Baker described his involvement as “a lapse in judgement in the context of financial stress” and said she was satisfied it was “out of character” for him.

“He attributed his offending behaviour to financial stress and engagement with anti-social peers. I am satisfied Mr Blundell is remorseful for the offending,” she said.

One of his co-offenders, Booth, joined to “feed drug addiction” by selling the copper wire, Justice Baker said.

His rehabilitative prospects were “considerably more guarded”, she said, and his repeated diving while disqualified showed a disregard for court orders.

However, he has since sought counselling for his drug and alcohol use and had family support.

“He also articulated a motivation to get clean and be there for his father, who is getting older,” she said.

Justice Baker spoke to the men directly, telling them they should “take advantage of this opportunity I’m giving you now” and focus on their rehabilitation.

For charges of aggravated burglary and property damage, Blundell was handed a head sentence of 1 year and seven months.

Booth received a head sentence of just over two years for charges of aggravated burglary and property damage. For driving while disqualified as a repeat offender, he was also disqualified from driving for two years.

Both men received discounts for their guilty pleas, and their sentences were suspended.