A career criminal allegedly burgled $75,000 from a supermarket just days after being given a shot at rehabilitation following his conviction for crimes including aggravated robbery.
Peter Michael Crawford was handed a suspended sentence in September 2020 in the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court – on the condition he complete a drug and alcohol program in a residential rehab.
When acting Justice Richard Refshauge suspended his four-year sentence, Crawford had 202 convictions recorded.
ACT Magistrates Court heard Peter Michael Crawford was identified by police on CCTV footage and a thumbprint found at the scene, over his alleged involvement in the robbery at Canberra university. Just days earlier Crawford had been granted a suspended four year sentence over a series of other crimes, including aggravated robbery
But just days later he left and allegedly wheeled a safe containing $74,800, including cash, cigarettes and whisky, out of the Canberra university supermarket, the Canberra Times reported.
Crawford was recognised from CCTV footage of the September 15 break-in, while his thumbprint was also retrieved from the a door handle inside the store, ACT Magistrates Court heard.
It is alleged Crawford and another man searched the store for cigarettes, then later returned, when Crawford took the safe while an accomplice stole a case of Jack Daniels whisky.
Police alleged Crawford was spotted amongst burglars ‘walking away from the UC supermarket carrying a number of things and pulling a safe which was on wheels with a handle’.
The court was also told Crawford, 38, who couldn’t be found by detectives investigating the robbery, was later tracked to Victoria where he was in jail for unrelated offences since February.
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The court heard he travelled to Victoria initially because his father was sick.
He was later extradited to the ACT and charged with aggravated robbery and theft.
A tearful Crawford did not enter a plea when he appeared on Tuesday.
Crawford’s Legal Aid lawyer, Tanja Cobden, proposed he be released on ‘a 24-hour home curfew’ in order to care for his sick partner, who had recently had surgery, but the application was opposed.
A tearful Peter Crawford did not enter a plea when he appeared before the ACT Magistrates Court. He was denied bail
Special Magistrate Jane Campbell refused bail and agreed Crawford could fail to appear at a later date.
Prosecutor Claire Daly said an application would be made to cancel the previous drug and alcohol treatment order.
It is understood to be likely the remainder of Crawford’s suspended sentence, imposed in September 2020, would become a custodial term.
Crawford is due back in court regarding the treatment order on Friday and again next month in relation to the new aggravated robbery charges.
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