A Ballina man already serving two community-based sentences for theft, drug and knife offences has been granted conditional bail after pleading guilty to stealing a bike in Byron Bay and possessing a prohibited drug.
Jack Oliss, 21, appeared in the NSW Bail Division before Judge L Robinson on Monday with two fresh charges of theft and drug possession.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Fish opposed bail, arguing Oliss was too great a risk to be released because of his criminal history, previous warrants, previous breaches of bail and an apprehended violence order, unstable accommodation and unemployment. She also argued the offending was planned and that Oliss was carrying bolt cutters and power tools.
“This type of offending places an extra financial burden on the broader community through increased insurance premiums and security costs,” Sergeant Fish told the court.
Defence solicitor Gemma Capagna acknowledged Oliss had relapsed into drug use after his release from custody
“With respect to Mr Oliss, he readily admits that upon release, he was homeless and he relapsed into drug use,” Ms Capagna told the court.
Ms Capagna said Oliss had been working with his Community Corrections caseworker to enter rehabilitation, but the process was taking time.
She told the court Oliss was willing to engage with the Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) program, contact the Riverlands Detox Program within 48 hours of his release, comply with an abstinence condition, observe a curfew and report to Community Corrections.
Previous court matters
The decision to grant Jack Oliss bail came less than two months after he was sentenced over three unrelated matters in Ballina and Tweed Heads.
In December 2025, Police issued Oliss with future Court Attendance Notices after alleging he failed to stop while riding an e-bike at high speeds in Ballina.
He was also charged with possessing a prohibited drug, possessing MDMA below the small quantity threshold and using an unregistered registrable Class A motor vehicle on a road.
In February, Oliss was granted bail after being charged with two counts of possessing goods suspected of being stolen, possessing methamphetamine and carrying a knife in a public place following a dramatic arrest in Cumbalum.
Police alleged the suspected stolen property included a chainsaw and a backpack containing climbing and roping equipment allegedly stolen from a vehicle in Cumbalum.
While on bail, Oliss was later charged over the alleged theft of an e-bike from The Tweed Mall in Tweed Heads.
Police alleged the incident involved a pursuit into Queensland before two men were arrested after returning to Tweed Heads.
Officers also allegedly found bolt cutters and clothing linked to the incident during a search of a nearby hotel room.
On May 28, Judge K Crittenden sentenced Oliss at Ballina Local Court over the Ballina, Cumbalum and Tweed Heads matters.
He received an 18-month Community Correction Order and a nine-month Intensive Correction Order, both of which he is still serving in the community, along with fines for the Ballina offences.
Jack Oliss bail decision
Judge Robinson granted Oliss conditional bail on strict conditions.
He must reside at a designated Ballina address, comply with an 8pm to 6am curfew, not enter Byron Bay except for approved purposes, abstain from alcohol and illicit drugs, contact the Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) program within 48 hours of his release, report to Community Corrections within 48 hours and submit to drug and alcohol testing.
Oliss is due to appear in Byron Bay Local Court on August 3.
He stole my ebike before Christmas at lennox pub in the day my bike was locked up he cut the lock and it took him 28 seconds for him to do it on the pub video camera to steal it the only way I no is he had orange and white sneekers on and I put it on ballina crime site and somebody recognised him saying that them he was wearing was his mates shoes that he stole from him in ballina because he was in distized himself from the camera and I can’t say it was him only from the sneekers so he got away with that one because I can’t prove it was him anyway he will get his carmer one day