A BENDIGO magistrate has called a man annoying and a pest after he admitted to stealing from the Country Fire Authority.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Magistrate Russell Kelly said 42-year-old Nathan Sparks' offending against the Golden Square Fire Station was "just disgraceful".
Sparks on Wednesday pleaded guilty in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court to charges of dealing with the proceeds of crime, theft, and damaging property.
The court heard a number of unoccupied Golden Square properties were burgled in February this year.
Police executed a search warrant at the property Sparks was staying at with his partner on February 15. Officers found some of the outstanding stolen items at the house.
The 42-year-old was arrested and charged, but released on bail.
The court heard on May 2, Sparks was captured on CCTV footage stealing some rope from the Golden Square Fire Station on High Street.
Sparks saw the camera and tried to disable and steal the device, but he failed. The tampering caused about $200 in damage.
The 42-year-old was arrested on September 18. He told police he went to the fire station to charge his phone, but he did take the rope to "tie some stuff".
Sparks admitted to playing with the camera but said he was not trying to damage or steal the device.
Defence lawyer Deniz Yildirim told the court Sparks was couch surfing at the time of the offending and was experiencing anxiety.
But Magistrate Russell Kelly said Sparks was "notorious" in Bendigo legal circles and the 42-year-old had "set a record" with his 54 pages of prior convictions.
"You're a criminal," Mr Kelly told Sparks. "You're an ongoing pest. You're annoying. Everybody has heard the stories about Nathan Sparks".
Mr Kelly said he would adjourn the case so Sparks could pay the $250 in compensation to the Golden Square CFA.
"If you do that, I'll give you a community corrections order," the magistrate said. "If you don't, bring your toothbrush because I'm locking you up."
The case was adjourned to next month. Sparks' bail was extended to his next court date.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark bendigoadvertiser.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter @BgoAddy
- Follow us on Instagram @bendigoadvertiser
- Join us on Facebook
- Follow us on Google News