Geraldton man imprisoned for 16-and-a-half months after breaching suspended term with Liquorland assault

A man who breached a suspended jail term by assaulting a liquor shop worker while stealing alcohol, as well as committing other offences, has been sentenced to 16-and-a-half months in prison. Shane Michael Corbett was on a suspended imprisonment sentence when he assaulted a manager at Liquorland Geraldton on September 15 last year as she confronted him over $51 worth of alcohol he was stealing. Corbett pleaded guilty to the charge of assault with intent to commission a crime, as well as unrelated charges of stealing, possessing drug paraphernalia and two counts of breaching protective bail conditions. Corbett had been given a suspended sentence on July 11 last year for common assault and stealing a motor vehicle. Corbett’s lawyer, Fintan Roberts, said Corbett accepted responsibility but did dispute the facts of the assault, saying he made contact with the victim when he went to pull his bag away from her when she grabbed it, while police alleged he shoved her. Mr Roberts urged Magistrate Angus Hockton not to imprison Corbett, saying he needed treatment for issues including substance abuse and a lack of pro-social engagement and was eager to change his ways. A pre-sentence report confirmed his need for treatment and his willingness to receive such treatment. Police prosecutor Sergeant Paul Birkinshaw recommended imprisonment, arguing Corbett had been given multiple chances on previous orders and he could receive treatment in prison. Mr Hockton said Corbett’s 31-page history of offences, including assault and breaches of suspended sentences, was not an aggravating factor but did show a need for deterrence. He also questioned why Corbett had not tried to find treatment after his previous conviction. “What has changed in the time in the time you have been on that sentence?” he said. “There’s nothing new here.” Corbett said he had approached three rehabilitation groups to inquire about treatment. Mr Hockton said Corbett’s breach of his suspended sentence warranted a term of imprisonment or suspended sentences would lose their significance. Corbett was sentenced to four months for the assault charge, 11 months for breaching the suspended sentences, one-and-a-half months cumulative for one of the breaches of bail and one month concurrent sentences each for the other bail breach and drug paraphernalia charges. He will be eligible for parole.