A serial criminal with hundreds of convictions allegedly wheeled a safe containing $70,000 out of a Canberra supermarket a week after a judge gave him a chance to avoid spending years behind bars.
Peter Michael Crawford, 38, had 202 entries on his criminal record when he was sentenced in the ACT Supreme Court last September to four years in jail for crimes including aggravated robbery.
Acting Justice Richard Refshauge suspended the term and instead imposed a drug and alcohol treatment order, requiring Crawford to complete a residential rehabilitation program.
But Crawford allegedly absconded within days and burgled the University of Canberra supermarket with an unidentified man early one morning, taking $74,800 worth of things including cigarettes, whisky and the cash inside the safe.
Police documents tendered in court on Tuesday say CCTV footage shows the burglars "walking away from the UC supermarket carrying a number of things and pulling a safe which was on wheels with a handle".
While police located the safe several hours later, the documents do not make clear whether the money was still inside.
Officers who looked at the CCTV claim to have recognised one of the intruders as Crawford, whose right thumbprint was also apparently found on a door handle in the supermarket's office area.
The police documents, prepared before Crawford's latest arrest, say investigators were unable to find him and offer him the chance to participate in an interview about the incident.
The ACT Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday, however, that the 38-year-old had since been tracked down in Victoria, where he was locked up in February for unrelated offences.
Crawford was released from jail in Melbourne last Friday, leading to his arrest and extradition to Canberra.
Following his return, he was formally charged with aggravated burglary and theft in relation to the supermarket incident.
Crawford did not enter pleas on Tuesday and wiped away tears before his bail application began.
His Legal Aid lawyer, Tanja Cobden, told the court the 38-year-old had initially travelled to Victoria "because he had news that his father was sick".
Ms Cobden said Crawford's partner was also now very unwell, and would need his support at home following two upcoming surgeries.
She proposed that Crawford be released on "effectively a 24-hour curfew" to stay at a Braddon address and lend a hand.
But prosecutor Claire Daly opposed bail, citing concerns Crawford would commit offences and fail to appear in court when required.
Ms Daly also said a sentence of imprisonment would likely be imposed if Crawford was convicted of the latest charges.
Special Magistrate Jane Campbell refused bail, agreeing with Ms Daly about a likelihood of Crawford failing to appear.
Crawford also fronted the ACT Supreme Court on Tuesday afternoon, with Acting Justice Refshauge having issued a warrant for his arrest following the 38-year-old's disappearance from residential rehabilitation.
"I expect there'll be an application by the Crown to cancel the [drug and alcohol] treatment order," Ms Daly told that court.
Should the application be successful, Crawford would likely be ordered to serve the remainder of the suspended four-year jail term behind bars.
Crawford is expected to appear in the Supreme Court again this Friday in relation to the treatment order, while he is expected back in the Magistrates Court on the fresh charges next month.
