A man who helped his friend steal more than $8500 worth of bricks from a Maiden Gully building site has been fined $2000 and ordered to pay back what they stole.
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Joshua William Dixon, 25 of Long Gully, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to one count of theft.
Prosecuting, Leading Senior Constable Lindsay Riley said more than $8500 in bricks were stolen from a building site in Maiden Gully on October 4, 2011.
He said a passer-by saw two men loading the bricks into Dixon’s ute.
Dixon’s lawyer Sam Norton said his client had driven his friend to the site to pick up the bricks because he was owed money by the building contractor.
Mr Norton said Dixon had not seen the bricks since he had left them in the man’s possession.
The court heard this man had not yet been charged by police.
“I think the informant is still chasing him up at this stage,” Leading Senior Constable Riley said.
“Dixon was tracked down through his vehicle being placed at the scene.”
Mr Norton said Dixon had given police the other man’s name in December. He said Dixon had never intended to be dishonest.
“He behaved in a way he believed was right, he was told this other man was owed money,” Mr Norton said.
“I ask for the matter to be dealt with by way of a heavy fine.”
Magistrate Bruce Cottrill said his main concern was Dixon’s criminal history.
He said Dixon had two prior convictions for theft in 2006 and 2010.
“Any matter of dishonesty in the future and you will face imprisonment,” Mr Cottrill said.