A man who successfully eluded authorities for nine years has been jailed over a series of serious crimes, including drug trafficking and an armed home invasion.
Brent Guerin, 38, pleaded guilty to 26 charges relating to offending in 2014 and 2024, including trafficking in an illicit substance, burglary, theft, taking a motor vehicle without consent and dangerous driving.
In an ACT Supreme Court decision published in July, he was handed a jail sentence of just over six years and two months, suspended immediately upon him entering a drug and alcohol treatment order.
His offending began in June 2014 when he broke into a Kambah home armed with a metal pole, waking a woman as she slept while demanding to know the whereabouts of another person.
He stole more than $2700 worth of property, smashed a $1900 television when it would not fit into his car, and damaged another vehicle before fleeing.
Later that year, he was caught driving a stolen Chrysler while disqualified before abandoning the vehicle and running from police.
After being granted bail, he failed to return to court and a warrant was issued for his arrest on November 17, 2014.
He was not arrested until April 2024, following a fresh crime spree that began on April 3 when he crashed a stolen Mercedes into a Crace home.
Three people, including a child, were inside the house at the time of the crash
He fled on foot, threatening residents who followed him before throwing bags onto the roofs of nearby houses.
Police recovered one bag containing almost $9700 in cash, drug paraphernalia and identification documents.
Another bag contained clothing, prescription medication, a number of sex toys, and an improvised conducted energy weapon capable of discharging electricity.
About an hour later, he entered another Crace home through an unlocked back door, demanded a resident's phone and car keys, and drove off in the stolen vehicle. He later led police on another dangerous pursuit before abandoning the car.
When he was arrested at a Braddon hotel on April 9, police found him carrying almost $9000 in cash and more than 24 grams of methamphetamine concealed within a red balloon.
Officers searched a vehicle linked to Guerin, which uncovered larger quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine, more than $23,000 in cash, and a suitcase containing an extensive coin collection, jewellery and luxury watches.
Justice Verity McWilliam said Guerin had spent 813 days in custody while awaiting sentencing.
The judge noted the "profound and far-reaching impact" of Guerin's actions, pointing to victim impact statements tendered by a resident of the Crace home he crashed into and a victim of one of his theft crimes.
"Their feeling of community safety has been shattered," she said.
Justice McWilliam said Guerin had written a letter to the court detailing his shame and embarrassment over his actions, as well as his struggles with drugs.
She acknowledged that Guerin had tried and failed to beat his addiction in the past, and found him suitable for a residential rehabilitation program at Canberra Recovery Services.
She noted that a bed at the facility was available for him immediately upon his release from custody.
"He is strongly motivated now to try again... the time is right for him to try again but this time, with support," she said.
