A serial criminal's impassioned plea has paid off after a magistrate agreed to suspend nine months of his latest jail sentence.
Magistrate James Stewart on Thursday said Sean Michael Talbott had convictions garnered throughout most of Australia.
The 49-year-old's most recent offending dates back to last year, when he swiped alcohol from Canberra bottle shops; at one point, using a stolen credit card.
Earlier, in October 2018, Talbott and two co-offenders ransacked vacant O'Connor houses and were caught red-handed with the proceeds.
Prosecutor Madison Fieldus on Thursday argued there was "no scope for leniency" when it came to Talbott, and he should be sentenced to a term of imprisonment with a non-parole period for his "highly contumacious" offending.
But lawyer Jacob Robertson said Talbott should have a partially suspended jail sentence instead.
"The old approaches have not worked with [Talbott]," Mr Roberston said.
The 49-year-old addressed the magistrate directly, telling him "without drugs, I can be a good person to society".
"It has just taken so long to find me again ... I'm over everything," Talbott said.
"I've got to repair a few damaged relationships ... and that's what I'm trying to do."
Talbott said he was the "black sheep" of his family, who were otherwise good people. He said he wanted to reconnect with his children and resume work as a bricklayer.
After a short adjournment, Mr Stewart said he would suspend nine months of Talbott's total 26-month jail sentence for aggravated burglary, theft and a swathe of other offences.
He described Talbott as "a man of intelligence" who had experienced disadvantage like so many First Nations people. Mr Stewart said after so long in the criminal justice system, Talbott knew what he wanted and needed.
"I think it's time to give him that," Mr Stewart said.
"He has a bright future to look forward to if he chooses to grasp it."
Talbott has already served about 16 months behind bars for his crimes, and the suspension period - when he is allowed out of jail - will start on November 15.
