June 23, 2015
A Toowoomba man ate stolen cattle gallstones “to fight fatigue”, a Toowoomba Court has been told.
Dean Eames, 38, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to stealing almost $4500 worth of gallstones from a Toowoomba abattoir.
Solicitor Brad Skuse, for Eames, said his client was not aware of the value of the gallstones – which are recovered from slaughtered cattle – and did not know the abattoir collected them to be sold.
He said Eames had no intention of selling the gallstones himself, but consumed them for medicinal purposes, especially to fight fatigue.
At the time of Eames’ arrest, police said quality cattle gallstones could reach values of about $20,000 a kilogram.
They are used in oriental medicine, particularly in the treatment of hepatitis and other liver and gallbladder-related ailments
Eames was sentenced to two months jail, fully suspended. A conviction was recorded.
- Related article: Police Find Stolen Gallstones
