Burglar drunk from chugging vanilla essence steals $5000 worth of items from neighbours

An Albany man who broke into his neighbour’s home and stole thousands of dollars worth of items claims he was drunk from chugging vanilla essence. Micheal John Gwilliams, 35, appeared last Thursday in Albany Magistrate’s Court, where he pleaded guilty to a burglary in Lockyer. He stole tools and a Waeco fridge valued at $5000. Police prosecutor Sgt Dave Loverock told the court between 1pm on January 4 and 8am on January 5, Gwilliams broke into his neighbour’s property while it was undergoing renovations. Gwilliams stole the items and then lifted them over the back fence and dropped them into his backyard, Sgt Loverock said. Police found empty vanilla essence bottles at the scene. “A search warrant at his house on January 12 located the items,” Sgt Loverock said. Sgt Loverock said Gwilliams initially denied the burglary, insisting another person had told him where to collect the items. But his source was in police custody at the time. Defence counsel Janie Gibbs said her client had been consuming alcohol in the form of vanilla essence. Pure vanilla extract can have 35 per cent alcohol or more — the same alcohol content as some spirits. Ms Gibbs said Gwilliams, originally from Queensland, had a limited criminal record. His previous convictions included burglary and “dishonesty” offences. Her client had been in WA for 21/2 years. Magistrate Dianne Scaddan said Gwilliams took advantage of his neighbour’s property being vacant. “You want to live a different life here,” she said. “It seems you have a drug problem and perhaps now an alcohol problem.” Gwilliams was placed on a conditional suspended prison order for eight months. Ms Scaddan suspended the term of imprisonment for 10 months so Gwilliams could seek alcohol counselling.