A NOTORIOUS criminal who publicly taunted police is back in custody after being charged with a string of break-ins, just weeks after being released from jail.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Daniel Bruce Beattie, 21, is being held in remand and faces the next 18 months in prison after allegedly breaching his parole in committing more than 20 offences.
Detective Senior Constable Matt Prestage, of the Cobram police Criminal Investigation Unit, yesterday said Beattie and members of his family moved to Cobram on February 4, the day he was released from custody.
The detective alleged that soon after Beattie arrived in town a spate of aggravated burglaries were committed.
After a tip-off from Warrnambool colleagues, Beattie came under notice from the Cobram police.
He and a 14-year-old co-offender were brought in for questioning.
The pair have been charged with six counts of aggravated burglary, 10 thefts and six theft from motorcars relating to goods valued at more than $10,000.
"We allege that (Beattie and his co-offender) snuck into people's homes while they were asleep and relieved them of their valuables including laptops, GPS navigation systems and wallets," Detective Senior Constable Prestage said yesterday.
"Daniel Beattie made an unsuccessful application for bail on March 18.
"That was adjourned part-heard and he will appear back in court on April 15 when the bail application is expected to recommence."
His co-offender's case has also been adjourned, but he has been released on bail.
Beattie spent time in Victoria’s toughest prison, Barwon, after being jailed in Warrnambool mid-last year.
He was classified as a higher risk prisoner because he escaped from police custody and was involved in a fight on the bus as he was being taken to prison.
Beattie, previously of Noorat, Orford and Warrnambool, pleaded guilty last year to 34 charges including aggravated burglary, reckless conduct endangering life, dangerous driving and escaping from custody.
He was sentenced to two years and six months’ jail, with a nine-month non-parole period.
Beattie earlier hit the headlines after he escaped from police custody while being transported to the Warrnambool police station after being arrested.
The talented junior athlete then got on internet social network site Facebook and made a series of comments about police detectives being too slow because they ate too much McDonald’s.
Ironically, Beattie was then arrested at McDonald’s before being sentenced.
