Qld: Burglar asks homeowner for lift to train station: court

AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-2007
Qld: Burglar asks homeowner for lift to train station: court

By Christine Flatley

BRISBANE, Dec 20 AAP - A drug-addled burglar threatened the owner of a house with a
samurai sword before asking for a lift to the nearest train station, a court has been
told.

The Brisbane District Court was today told that Thanh Liem Trinh, 33, broke into a
house in Wynnum, in Brisbane's east, on December 5 last year.

Owner Peter Hammond returned home in the early afternoon to find Trinh in the process
of ransacking his home.

The court was told he confronted Trinh, who told Mr Hammond that he was searching for jewellery.

Trinh then picked up a samurai sword that was in the bedroom and threatened Mr Hammond,
telling him he would use it to cut him.

Mr Hammond told Trinh to leave, however Trinh followed the homeowner out of the bedroom
and asked if he could be driven to the nearest train station.

The court was told Mr Hammond agreed to do so as Trinh was still brandishing the sword.

When they arrived at Wynnum Station Trinh took his sword and boarded a train, while
Mr Hammond drove directly to the nearest police station to report the burglary.

Trinh was captured on security videos at the station and was later apprehended at a
house in Annerley, in Brisbane's south.

Police officers found him to be in possession of a stolen bottle of cologne.

The court was told Trinh had battled a drug addiction for many years and that he was
too drug-addled to be interviewed immediately after his arrest.

At the time of this latest offence he was already on a suspended sentence for another
burglary offence he had committed to feed this habit.

Trinh pleaded guilty today to one count each of burglary with a circumstance of aggravation,
stealing and deprivation of liberty.

He was sentenced to three years jail.

Judge Nick Samios also activated the remainder of the 15 month suspended sentence for
the previous offence.

He will be eligible for parole in November next year.

AAP cf/lc/jt/de

KEYWORD: TRINH

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