Young Great Southern man who stole a $4000 motorbike from Kojonup property avoids immediate jail

A young man who broke into a Kojonup property and stole a $4000 motorbike after recently completing parole has avoided immediate jail. Kayne Jordan Wicks, 21, appeared in Katanning Magistrates Court on December 16 where he was sentenced for burglary and commit, stealing a motor vehicle, having no authority to drive and driving an unlicensed vehicle on a road. A fifth charge for driving without a protective helmet was dismissed. The 21-year-old pleaded guilty to all four remaining charges. On November 21 at about 7am, Wicks snuck into a Kojonup residence through a side gate and opened the padlock to the home’s rear shed and stole the owner’s orange off-road motorbike. Wicks then drove off to a vacant farm lot in Jingalup where his father used to live. The victims’ neighbour alerted the victim at 8.21am that their gate was open, alerting them to the discovery. Police prosecutor Sgt Dylan Fisher told the court it was still unknown how Wicks unlocked the padlock. On November 23, CCTV captured Wicks about 3.30am driving the unlicensed motorbike in Kojonup, while only holding a learner’s permit. Later that day, police found the stolen bike in a shed on the Jingalup farm and Wicks sleeping nearby, where he was arrested. Sgt Fisher said the motorbike was worth $4000 and had been recovered with some damage. Defence lawyer Lucy Bourne said her client does not recall the incident but accepts the facts. Ms Bourne said the victim and Wicks share a mutual friend, and the victim had responded that “he should have just asked if he wanted to go for a ride”. Ms Bourne said Wicks has had a tumultuous upbringing and turned to alcohol, which served as a driving factor for his offending. She said Wicks has made personal changes, such as getting a job, after his most recent time in custody and had recognised he needed help. Sgt Fisher said the prosecution does not trust Wicks on a community-based order due to his history of breaching them and said he had “no faith moving forward” due to Wicks’ record. Community Corrections said Wicks had successfully completed parole which indicated he could complete an order. Magistrate Rosemarie Myers said the alcohol was not doing Wicks any favours but she “has faith” he is “turning a corner”. Ms Myers said to Wicks she was giving him an opportunity to show everyone he “can clean himself off”. Wicks was sentenced to seven months jail suspended for 10 months with program and supervision requirements. His licence was disqualified for three months and was fined $100.