Katanning man sent back behind bars after ‘flurry’ of criminal activity

A 23-year-old Katanning man has been jailed after a “flurry” of criminal activity in which he led police on a car chase, stole two vehicles and broke into a business. Nathan Rolick Hart appeared in Albany Magistrate’s Court last Friday via video link from Albany Regional Prison after pleading guilty to two counts of stealing a motor vehicle and two burglary offences Hart also pleaded guilty to 12 fraud charges after he stole two debit cards and used the pay-wave function at Caltex, Woolworths and BWS stores. Magistrate Dianne Scaddan sentenced him to 12 months behind bars and ordered him to pay $1200 in fines plus $764 in costs. Police prosecutor Sergeant Alan Dean told the court that about 11.45pm on March 17 Hart stole a car which had its key in the ignition on Richardson Street in Katanning. He led police on an eight-minute pursuit, reaching speeds up to 150km/h when officers were forced to abandon the chase on the outskirts of the town, Sgt Dean said. Police later found the vehicle abandoned on the side of the road. Sgt Dean told the court that between 9pm on April 7 and 10am on April 8, Hart gained entry into a furniture store by smashing a window. Between midnight and 7am the next day, Hart returned to the same business and forced entry again. Knowing there were vehicles at the premises, he brought a car battery with him and fitted it to one of the cars, Sgt Dean said. Driving through the locked garage door and causing “significant damage”, he drove out of Katanning until he “blew a rear tyre” in Woodanilling. After Hart was arrested and taken into custody police found a torch, knife and screwdriver on him in which he explained to police that “he collects tools”. Police later discovered he had left a backpack at the business which contained Indonesian rupiah, two small bags of methamphetamine, a screwdriver and a knife multi-tool. Sgt Dean asked the court to consider an immediate jail term because Hart had only recently been released from prison for similar offences. Defence lawyer Janie Gibbs told the court that during his three weeks of offending Hart was using meth and “drinking alcohol to excess”. Ms Gibbs said her client was “opportunistic” when he stole the first vehicle on March 17 and wanted to get away from Katanning after an argument with his partner.