Mark Adrian Connolly sentenced to 16-month imprisonment after series of motorcycle thefts

A Warnbro man has been sentenced to 16 months imprisonment after a string of offences including a series of motorcycle thefts in the Rockingham area.

Mark Adrian Connolly, 43, appeared before Rockingham Magistrates Court on Friday and pleaded guilty to one count aggravated burglary, two counts possession of stolen property, one count steal motor vehicle and one count possession of prescription drug.

Prosecutor Sergeant Shaun Bailey told the court that between 5.15am and 5.54am on June 22, 2021, two people used a tool to force open a glass door at West Coast Campers & Gear.

After gaining access to the building they stole an MR Pro 300 motorcycle to the value of $14,990.

The motorcycle runs off European fuel and has not been converted to accommodate Australian fuel.

At 6.27am on the same day a stolen trailer fitted with a GPS tracker was showing at Connolly’s home.

A mobile phone belonging to an associate of Connolly was retrieved and a phone number belonging to Connolly was retrieved with a picture of him with the stolen motorbike.

Police were able to confirm the image was taken in Connolly’s living room.

Between 9.30pm on July 26, 2021, and 5.30am on July 27, 2021, Connolly and the co-accused stole three motorcycles worth $29,000 from a home garage.

Police were able to obtain DNA from a cut hole in the garage door that matched Connolly’s.

Between 4pm on September 30, 2021, and 6am on November 1, 2021, another Suzuki motorcycle was stolen from a home garage in Safety Bay.

When Connolly was arrested in relation to another home burglary, police examined his mobile phone and saw pictures of the stolen Suzuki motorcycle.

On September 28, 2021, Connolly was riding his motorbike around in Port Kennedy at 11.55pm when police saw him and he attempted to hide in a bush.

A police search uncovered 14 Riluzole tablets in a clip seal bag, which Connolly said a friend gave him to help with a shoulder injury.

Connolly’s lawyer Patti Chong said Connolly had been approached for assistance with the stolen European motorcycle.

“He has an interest in motorbikes and is very handy with mechanics,” she said.

Ms Chong said Connolly admitted taking photographs with the stolen motorbikes and was remorseful.

Magistrate Erin O’Donnell said home burglaries cause “inconvenience at the very least and that it can make people feel very unsafe in their own homes and it can have a very real mental impact on the victims of those offences”.

Connolly was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, fined $400 and ordered to pay $259.30 in court costs.