October 25, 2012
In Kingaroy Magistrates Court today:
A man who stole $50 from the purse of a fellow worker at Kingaroy’s SupaIGA store has been sentenced to 80 hours community service and had a conviction recorded.
Police Prosecutor Sgt Wayne Bushell said CCTV at the store had captured Lance Sullivan going through several lockers in a staff mealroom and placing something in his pocket.
A fellow worker at the end of her shift had found $50 missing from her wallet.
Sgt Bushell said Sullivan had told police he was cleaning the lockers and had been asked to do so by the regular cleaner, but police ascertained this was not the case.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall said Sullivan has stolen from a colleague in a situation where there was expected to be an element of trust.
“And you don’t appear to show any remorse for your actions,” he said.
Mr Bucknall noted it was not Sullivan’s first appearance before a court on a charge of dishonesty.
“Are you still working there?” Mr Bucknall asked.
“No” was the reply.
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A man has been been fined $1200 after he rode an unregistered trailbike on Malar Road near Kingaroy while disqualified from driving.
The court was told that a police car pulled over Harold Hicks on September 2 after they nearly collided with him. The motorbike had no headlights.
Hicks said he was only on the bike because it was Father’s Day and he wanted to see his children.
Magistrate Bucknall told Hicks it was foolish behaviour as he had not only exposed himself to some risk but all other users of the road.
A conviction was recorded.
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A Kingaroy man who hopped on a pushbike after drinking a 700ml bottle of vodka mixed with energy drink was fined $300 today for being in charge of a vehicle while under the influence of liquor.
Stephen Kingsley Riley pleaded guilty but said he was only on the bicycle because he had received a message saying his sister was in Kingaroy Hospital in a critical condition.
Prosecutor Sgt Bushell said police initially stopped Riley because he was talking on a mobile phone as he was riding.
Magistrate Bucknall said in retrospect Riley should have called a cab.
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An 18-year-old youth who dropped his pants at a staff member in the drive-thru at McDonald’s in the early hours of Anzac Day after being refused service pleaded guilty when he appeared in court today.
Mitchell Lee Wombey also pleaded guilty to entering a Kingaroy house and stealing a Honda motorcycle on May 5, and breaking into a vehicle left parked near the Kingaroy Soccer Club on September 11. Money and compact disks were stolen from the vehicle and a fire extinguisher had been used to smash a window. Police said they found Wombey’s prints at the scene.
Prosecutor Sgt Bushell said Wombey was pulled over by police at Kilcoy with the stolen motorbike protruding from the boot of a car. He then failed to provide a breath specimen when requested, and a licence check revealed his licence had been cancelled because of unpaid fines.
Mr Mark Werner, for Wombey, said alcohol had played a major role in all the offences.
He said his client could not remember the incident with the vehicle break-in, although he accepted his fingerprints were found at the scene,
He also had no memory of the event at McDonald’s although he recalled drinking at a Kingaroy hotel earlier in the evening where he and a friend had shared about 10 jugs between them.
Wombey had also been drinking at a hotel before he and a friend decided to visit an acquaintance. When they saw the motorcycle inside the man’s house they had decided to take it.
Magistrate Bucknall fined Wombey $220 for wilful exposure but converted it to 10 hours community service. No conviction was recorded.
He placed Wombey on one year probation and ordered him to complete 200 hours community service for the break-ins. He was also ordered to pay $866 compensation to the owner of the motorcycle (in default, nine days jail). No conviction was recorded.
For failing to supply a breath specimen – which is the equivalent of a high-range drink driving offence – Wombey was fined $1000, converted to 45.5 hours community service, and disqualified from driving for nine months. For driving while suspended, he was fined $300, converted to 13.5 hours community service and disqualified from driving for one month.
