TEEN CRIMINAL WARNS YOUTH NOT TO DABBLE IN DRUGS

A TEENAGE addict sentenced to 4 years' jail for multiple offences yesterday
warned young people about the dangers of drugs.

Appearing in the Brisbane District Court, Jay Leslie Maguire, an amphetamine
and cannabis addict, said he did not want other teenagers to "follow the
same path" into drug addiction.

"I wouldn't want that to happen to anyone," Maguire said.

"I want to warn them not to experiment - not even with cannabis. I liked it
at first but then I was hooked and couldn't give it up.

"I would like to warn young people not to let them get you in."

Acting Chief Judge Fred McGuire said Maguire's words should "reverberate
around the state".

He said Maguire was only 18 years old but had more than 100 convictions.

Judge McGuire said he was well aware of Maguire's battle with drugs but the
time had come when the public safety had to be taken into account.

"It is a tragedy he can't control his drug addiction, but the time has come
to protect the community and he must be restrained," Judge McGuire said.

He sentenced Maguire to 4 years' jail and recommended he be eligible for
parole after serving 18 months.

Judge McGuire also strongly recommended Maguire undergo treatment for drug
addiction while serving his prison sentence.

Maguire had pleaded guilty to 26 charges involving dangerous driving, break
and enter, stealing, assaulting police and traffic offences.

Earlier, prosecutor Lisa McConnell said Maguire had just about "rewritten
the Criminal Code".

She said he had been released from six months' jail in April this year and
by mid-May had committed 26 offences in the Banyo-Sandgate areas.

Ms McConnell said most of the offences were committed in a two-day period.
She said that on May 12 Maguire broke into several homes and early the next
morning stole a car from outside a house.

Ms McConnell said police chased the stolen car which are one stage was
travelling down Sandgate Road with all its tyres blown out.

Checked-by: Don Beck