A 19-year-old Junee man has been ordered to pay $25,900 in compensation after he stole his boss’s ute and lost a host of very expensive tools being stored inside.
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Hayden James O’Rafferty fronted Wagga Local Court for sentencing on Monday after he pleaded guilty to breaking into a Croker Grain shed in Marrar and taking the Toyota Hilux on November 24.
Documents tendered to the court revealed O’Rafferty used a pair of bolt cutters to break into the shed, took his employer’s ute, and abandoned it in Wagga with the key in the ignition and the doors unlocked.
When he returned to the car the next afternoon, O’Rafferty said the entire contents of the tray had disappeared, resulting a huge bill for the specialist equipment that needed to be replaced.
Defence solicitor Rebecca McIlveen said O’Rafferty’s offending was driven by ice, but he has been “completely abstinent” from drugs and alcohol after spending time in rehab following the offence.
“He was intoxicated on the drug ice, but now he’s absolutely sober – his GP attests to that – and he hasn’t even dabbled or thought about the drug for some five months,” Ms McIlveen said.
“It’s a small town, it’s a small area, and certainly his misdeeds in regards to his former employer are known widely, so he’s determined to show employers in his area that he’s not going to abuse their trust if given an opportunity.”
In addition to ordering him to pay to replace the lost tools, magistrate Christopher Halburd sentenced O’Rafferty to a 16-month intensive correction order with the condition that he must not consume any drugs or alcohol.
“The reality is that, whatever happened, you took the tools, because they were in the vehicle, then left the vehicle unlocked somewhere for some reason that escapes understanding,” Mr Halburd said.
“Part of the reason I’m not going to send him into custody is that he is taking responsibility for that which he did.”
O’Rafferty said he was willing to do whatever it took to make amends with his previous employer and get his life on track.
“I am not here to justify anything, all I can really say is that all my actions were cowardly, and I just hope for the opportunity to make amends to these people,” O’Rafferty said.
“I’m not here to argue or anything; I take full responsibility.”
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