On bail at the time, Shaun Patrick Coughlan, has pleaded guilty to five property offences which occurred across August and September. 

The offences were also in breach of an existing good behaviour bond for similar property offences. 

The 30-year-old is charged with break and enter a dwelling with intent to steal, break and enter a house and steal, dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, entering a vehicle without consent and larceny. 

According to the facts tendered to the court, Coughlan broke into a Kooringal home between 11pm on August 8 and 6am on August 9, escaping with the owner’s handbag and its contents. 

Coughlan later used a stolen card from the handbag to purchase $100 worth of Telstra credit. 

Hours later he broke into another home, just three doors down on on the same street, around 4am. 

Between 8pm on September 3 and 8.50am on September 4, Coughlan broke into an unlocked vehicle outside a Kooringal home, escaping with $400 worth of stolen property including a camera and cash. 

With his mother, brother, sister and ex-partner present in the public gallery, Coughlan appeared in Wagga Local Court via video link, awaiting his fate. 

Solicitor Jim Allen, who represented the Kooringal man, said his client needed to tackle a history of drug abuse. 

“The first thing his brother said to me was that he had to get help for his drug problem,” Mr Allen said. 

“His family is here to do whatever they can to help him overcome this.” 

Mr Allen told the court his client wouldn’t necessarily end up in custody and should be released on bail to start attempting rehabilitation. 

“His family will be doing everything in their power to get him in that rehab and if he’s locked up that could greatly hinder that,” Mr Allen said. 

Mr Allen said Coughlan pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, making full admissions to police. 

Police prosecutor Priscilla Jones said a custodial penalty was likely, opposing bail. 

“There was a number of property offences and some of the items taken were later used during other offences,” Ms Jones said. 

“There is a risk of endangering the safety of the community and committing further offences.” 

Magistrate Michael Crompton said the concerns could be mitigated by the imposition of conditions as he granted bail. 

Coughlan will report to police three times a week, abide by a 9pm to 7am curfew and be of general good behaviour.