Matthew Cubby jailed for stealing handbags in Tamworth break and enters

Matthew Cubby pleaded guilty to two counts of break, enter and steal, and also admitted to failing to appear in court.

Cubby, who is being held in custody at Cessnock Correctional Centre, appeared in Tamworth Local Court via video link for sentencing.

Aboriginal Legal Service solicitor Rebecca Witchard said they "were not particularly sophisticated, but opportunistic offences", and were committed in the midst of a drug bender.

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The court heard one of the handbags was removed from the Tamworth home, and taken outside into the yard and dumped, but nothing was ultimately stolen.

The second break-in saw Cubby steal the handbag from inside, and took a bank card but the bag was recovered a short time later.

"He was found with the card when he was arrested," Miss Witchard said.

Miss Witchard said Cubby was an Aboriginal father, who "does come from a deprived background" and was exposed to both alcohol and drugs, as well as domestic violence in the home.

The court heard when Cubby's mother left home, he was only 11, and was later sent to live in a hostel at age 14, after his father passed away suddenly.

She said Cubby was a talented football player but had lost his way; turned to drugs at age 16, and overdosed in 2017 while in prison.

She said at the time of the offending late last year, and into this year, he was unmedicated, and his sisters had died.

"That triggered a further downward spiral," Miss Witchard said, acknowledging the family passing "triggered unresolved grief at his father's passing".

She said Cubby had undergone treatment and counselling in custody. The court heard Cubby was arrested in January but was released a month later to go to rehabilitation, "but never made it".

He was arrested a week later on a warrant and was re-released again in June, only to be re-arrested again a little more than a month later.

DPP solicitor Ellen Tiedeman said "his record of similar offences denies him leniency", but Miss Witchard told the court 26-year-old Cubby had made early guilty pleas, and should be given a 25 per cent discount.

She added Cubby was "certainly a risk of institutionalisation".

"He hasn't had the easiest upbringing has he?" Magistrate Julie Soars said.

She imposed an aggregate sentence of 16 months jail for the offences, ordering him to spend a minimum of eight months behind bars. After time served, he will be eligible for parole at the end of this month.

Ms Soars said the offending "appears to be driven" by his drug addiction.

"Unless you turn your life around it's going to be in and out of custody," she told Cubby.

"You're a young man with it all ahead of you."