A man who stole more than $60,000 worth of items from a council depot, including a ute, trailer and tools, has been jailed for four months, but is out on bail after he appealed his sentence.
Christopher Shane Fletcher, 49, of Shepparton, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to burglary, theft of a vehicle, four counts of theft, three counts of dishonestly retaining stolen goods, four counts of drug driving, failing to keep a safe distance behind a vehicle, driving while suspended and failing to answer bail.
Prosecutor Senior Constable Luke Lund told the court Fletcher and a co-accused man broke into the City of Greater Shepparton depot in Doyles Rd, Shepparton, at 3am on August 23, 2020.
The pair forced entry into vehicles and toolboxes on the back of them, stealing about $10,000 worth of tools.
They also stole a Holden Colorado ute worth $50,000 and a box trailer worth about $4500, Sen Constable Lund said.
The court heard a report was made to police of two vehicles “behaving suspiciously” on Old Dargalong School Rd, Waring, at 8am.
The Holden Colorado had been driven into the bushes and the driver got into another car driven by the co-accused.
Police found the two men at the Waring Roadhouse and the co-accused admitted he had dumped the ute.
Some of the stolen tools were found in the ute.
The stolen trailer was found at a Mangalore house, and most of the tools were recovered.
Fletcher initially denied the theft, but when told the tools had been found, said “you’ve got me – I did it all”, Sen Constable Lund said.
In separate incidents, Fletcher was found drug driving in a truck with methamphetamines in his system four times and in a car another time.
The court heard Fletcher was driving a Kenworth prime mover truck when he collided with the back of a Kia sedan that had slowed for road works on the Western Ring Rd at Fawkner at 10.50pm on May 7, 2020.
He had methamphetamines in his system and there was minor damage to the car.
When asked why he failed to drive a sufficient distance behind the car, Fletcher said it had braked suddenly and he could not see the brake lights.
He was then caught drug driving in a Kenworth B-double prime mover four days later in River Rd, Murchison.
He had also not filled in his national driver work diary properly.
He was again caught drug driving in a Peterbilt prime mover truck on Edwards Rd, Tallygaroopna, on October 19, 2021.
Less than seven weeks later, on December 4, 2021, Fletcher was picked up driving a Peterbilt prime mover truck in McLennan St, Mooroopna, with methamphetamines in his system and driving on a suspended driver’s licence.
Police also caught Fletcher drug driving in a car in Poplar Ave, Shepparton, on June 7, 2020.
Ferguson’s solicitor Megan McKenna told the court her client had “turned the corner” with his drug use and had not used drugs in four months.
She also said there had been no further dishonesty offences for two years.
Magistrate Tara Hartnett said the burglary at the council depot had “real planning to it”.
“Your prior history for those types of matters is appalling,” Ms Hartnett said.
“The impact or consequences on the broader community would have been significant.”
Ms Hartnett jailed Fletcher for four months for the burglary and theft at the council, but defence appealed the sentence.
After the appeal, Fletcher was granted appeal bail, allowing him to remain in the community until his appeal is heard.
Ferguson was also fined $1500 on the driving charges and $400 for failing to answer bail.