A thief has admitted to a ‘very foolish’ mistake in pinching a beloved gorilla statue from a retirement village.
Matthew Newbould pleaded responsible on Friday to stealing the 20kg backyard decoration named Garry from a retirement village at St Helena in Melbourne’s north-east on June 6.
The 33-year-old went to the Leith Park village with a pal to purchase a chest of drawers when he noticed the statue perched on tree stumps, the Heidelberg Magistrates Court docket was instructed.
Newbould grabbed Garry and positioned him onto the again of a ute he had employed from Bunnings earlier than driving away.
A member of the general public noticed the gorilla perched behind the automobile and snapped a photograph earlier than contacting police.
Newbould was arrested on July 5 and a search of his telephone revealed textual content messages to buddies, together with one which stated: ‘LOL I stole a gorilla, so what?’
He was additionally disqualified from driving on the time of the theft, after shedding his licence in July final 12 months.
His lawyer, Rebecca Elder, instructed the courtroom Newbould made a silly and opportunistic resolution to steal Garry and he by no means had any intention to promote the statue.
A thief has admitted to a ‘very foolish’ mistake in pinching a beloved gorilla statue known as Garry (pictured) from a retirement village on June 6
Newbould additionally conceded to Justice of the Peace Michael Wighton that he had made a poor mistake.
‘It was very foolish,’ he instructed the courtroom.
Ms Elder requested for Newbould to be handed a advantageous or a neighborhood work order as they had been each inside vary for the crime.
However Wighton stated the mix of the theft and unlicensed driving made the offending extra severe.
Matthew Newbould (pictured in black shirt) pleaded responsible to stealing the 20kg gorilla from a retirement village at St Helena in Melbourne ‘s north-east on June 6
Garry was noticed at a Melbourne property throughout a police flyover
He ordered Newbould to undertake a neighborhood corrections order evaluation on Monday, earlier than a sentencing listening to in September.
‘Simply hold engaged on staying out of hassle,’ Mr Wighton instructed him.
The 33-year-old’s bail was prolonged to his subsequent courtroom date.
