A man who used someone else’s bank card to pay for a gym visit in Bendigo has been sentenced to time already served in custody.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Barry Dettman, 52, pleaded guilty in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday in relation to the incident last week.
The court heard Dettman entered a gym on Bath Lane on the morning of October 4 for a casual visit, but was $1 short of the fee.
About half an hour later, he returned with a debit card and paid the $16 casual visit fee via contactless payment.
Dettman had found the card a short distance away in Mitchell Street.
Fifteen minutes after Dettman entered the gym, police arrived and located him locked in a toilet, and arrested him for obtaining advantage by deception and theft.
The debit card was found in his clothing.
Defence lawyer Jacob Mildren told the court Dettman had co-operated with police and already served five days in custody.
He said Dettman had previous priors for such offences, but considering the relatively small amount of money obtained, asked he be sentenced to time already served.
The prosecution asked he be sentenced to a term longer than five days, submitting he was sentenced to 14 days last year for similar offences.
But Magistrate Andrew Capell gave Dettman no further jail time, noting his guilty plea and a “somewhat bizarre” crime that fell at the lower end of the scale of offending.
Dettman was also convicted.
Mr Capell made an order that Dettman pay $16 compensation.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.