‘He was wreaking havoc:’ prolific offender sentenced for violent Nanaimo crime spree

Determined to get his bike back, the 13-year-old boy who was with a friend, chased after and attempted to grab Diraddo as the thief managed to ride away on the bike valued at $2,000.

A portion of the confrontation between the two parties was captured on one of the fast-food restaurant’s exterior surveillance cameras.

“Mr. Diraddo threatened to kill the 13-year-old,” Crown counsel’s Leanne Mascolo told court.

The boy was not injured during the ordeal, while Nanaimo RCMP found and returned the victim’s bike.

“Officers did a lot of work through the street population, and that bike was actually recovered,” Mascolo said.

Diraddo pleaded guilty to the downgraded charge of theft under $5,000 after originally being charged with robbery for the Bowen Rd. offence.

Surveillance still image of Jason Diraddo in the process of stealing a $2,000 mountain bike from a 13-year-old boy on July 4, 2025. (Nanaimo RCMP)

The offender’s documented series of recent criminal behaviour started on June 14 when he stole an estimated $2,000 toolbox full of tools from the back of a truck on a ferry between Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay.

The tools were not recovered, but the theft was caught on a ferry surveillance camera.

Two days later, Diraddo stole two rings and a watch valued at $3,800 from Michael Hill Jewellery at Woodgrove Centre.

Again, Diraddo’s actions were caught on surveillance video.

A pair of disturbing thefts at north Nanaimo retailers transpired in August, where a belligerent Diraddo was confronted by loss prevention officers.

On Aug. 7, Diraddo was intercepted while attempting to steal several items from Rona + at Nanaimo North Town Centre.

The offender threatened to stab the loss prevention officer (LPO), who called 911.

With police chasing Diraddo, who threw the items on the ground that he was attempting to steal.

He was arrested following a brief foot chase.

However, Diraddo was released, leading to another high-risk interaction with an LPO.

On Aug. 24, Diraddo was confronted while walking out of a north end grocery store with a shopping cart full of unpaid items.

The Crown’s Mascolo stated after stopping Diraddo outside the Mary Ellen Dr. Save-On-Foods location, Diraddo pulled out a weapon resembling a gun and pointed it at the LPO

Diraddo was arrested in bushes behind the store.

The weapon was not recovered.

“As your honour has heard from the middle of June until Mr. Diraddo was in custody on August 24, he was wreaking havoc in the community and has been in custody over since.”

Cheyne Hodson, Diraddo’s lawyer, told court his client’s offending was directly related to a severe opioid addiction, noting Diraddo was heavily using drugs while homeless camping around the Nanaimo area.

Diraddo was spiraling out of control, Hodson told the provincial court hearing.

“Mr. Diraddo’s not taking much effort to conceal his identity or really conceal his offending; it truly is out-of-control behaviour and seemingly without much concern for potential consequences.”

Stating Diraddo suffered a poor childhood which included physical abuse; Hodson said Diraddo was an alcoholic and used cocaine by the age of 14.

Diraddo is on depression and anxiety medications, has severe physical limitations and relies on social assistance, Hodson said.

He said Diraddo didn’t form on opioid addiction until about a year ago.

Hodson said the good news for Diraddo is he has post-custodial living arrangements lined up with a supportive partner, while he has shown a willingness to address his addiction issues.

Judge Brian Harvey referenced the ‘wreaking havoc’ categorization Crown counsel had for Diraddo.

“That’s an understatement quite candidly, this behaviour that citizens of this city had to endure from this gentleman are nothing short of shocking,” the judge said.

Harvey told Diraddo that with his 49th birthday nearing, he’s getting too old for a criminal lifestyle and needs to address the root causes of his offending.

“You’ll end up serving a life sentence in installments, and I’m sure you don’t want that.”

One-year of probation with numerous conditions, including counselling provisions, will apply to Diraddo upon release.

Seven other charges were dropped against Diraddo in exchange for his guilty pleas.

Hus sentence resulted from a recommendation formed jointly between Crown counsel and defence.

After originally declining to address the court, Diraddo briefly apologized for the Bowen Rd. mountain bike theft incident.

“I felt so bad,” Diraddo said from the prisoner’s box.

Diraddo’s criminal record dates back to 2006, which heavily features property offences in Nanaimo, crimes of violence, probation breaches and driving infractions.

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by Ian Holmes

‘He was wreaking havoc:’ prolific offender sentenced for violent Nanaimo crime spree

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