A DISGRUNTLED former employee stole a $235,000 prime mover from his old workplace after they refused to give him his job back, a court has heard.
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Rochester resident Samuel Leslie Barber, 21, stole the Kenworth truck from Ward Bros Earthmoving on October 22 last year.
The court heard Barber had approached staff at the business prior to the theft and asked to be re-employed, but was knocked back.
Defence lawyer Nicholas Rolfe said Barber, who had fallen out with a partner at the company, was “upset and miffed” about being refused re-employment.
Mr Rolfe said Barber had issues with drugs and had suffered from an amphetamine and ice addiction for two or three years.
He said Barber’s offending had largely been a result of that addiction.
The court heard Barber had stolen the vehicle from a secure yard and driven to Geelong, where he tried to sell it.
A person provided a statement to police that Barber had asked for a lift from Geelong back to Bendigo.
Barber was intercepted while a passenger in a Ford sedan in High Street Bendigo on October 23 after a petrol theft.
Keys for the truck were recovered from the vehicle.
Barber admitted to the fuel theft from the Epsom BP but denied the truck theft.
Mr Rolfe said his client, who had been in custody for 147 days, acted on impulse.
“It was a spur of the moment theft ... he’s not sure why he went to Geelong,” he said.
Magistrate Richard Wright said 147 days was an adequate sentence for the crime.
“I hope this has been a learning experience for you and you’ve addressed some of the issues,” he said.
Barber was convicted of motor vehicle theft, unlicensed driving and petrol theft and released given time served.
