A former cattle rustler who stole thousands of illegal and dangerous goods – seized by Customs – that he was contracted to destroy has been likened, along with one of his children, to "Steptoe and Son".
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Donald Elgin and son Jason pilfered more than 10,000 items – from alcohol and Cuban cigars to weapons, pornographic films and shark jaws – conservatively valued at more than $500,000.
Elgin, 61, and Jason, 41, "brazenly" stole their booty over more than two years "under the noses" of unsuspecting Customs officers inspecting the destruction process at the pair's Coburg North facility.
Judge Richard Maidment heard that Jason Elgin stood atop a conveyor belt with a big stick and selected items to steal while officers waited below, unable to ascend because of occupational health and safety issues.
Donald Elgin, a manager, was also equated in Melbourne's County Court on Friday with the "Golden Dustman", a rags-to-riches Londoner on whom Charles Dickens based his character Nicodemus Boffin in the novel Our Mutual Friend.
His barrister, Peter Morrissey, SC, submitted that the father of five was a hoarder who for years had "collected everything", but he conceded that Elgin did choose "desirable" items, which had involved a serious breach of trust.
Leighton Gwynn, for Jason Elgin, said photos of the premises showed its "chaotic nature", with shelving "towers" and multiple rooms that reflected the adage of trash for some being treasure for others.
In his opening, prosecutor Richard Pirrie said Donald Elgin's company began destroying goods for Customs – including seized imported or smuggled items – in 2008.
Mr Pirrie said Elgin oversaw the delivery and destruction process and liaised with officers while his son operated the crushing/shedding machinery at the top of a conveyor belt.
But rather than destroying the goods, he said the Elgins diverted them from the process and "appropriated [them] for their own use".
Donald Elgin gave destruction certificates to Customs, whose officers confirmed they adhered to the service's operating procedures.
When police searched the Elgins' multi-level premises, as well as an adjoining property and one in NSW, they found "forfeited" goods in locked rooms, storage rooms and bedrooms.
The seized items included 329 bottles of alcohol, 70 kilograms of pharmaceutical products, 884 knives, 140 BB guns, 1294 cartons of cigarettes, 189 computer games, and random trademark goods.
Mr Pirrie, who noted there was no suggestion any of the goods had been sold and that many had been randomly "scooped" up, said both men indicated early on that they were prepared to take responsibility. They later helped identify the items.
Mr Morrissey, who compared the two men with "Steptoe and Son" in his written submissions, said his client was a "hoarder" rather than greedy, and that there was no suggestion of financial gain from the offending.
Mr Gwynn said Jason Elgin, a labourer and married father of three – who drank but did not smoke, the opposite to his father – stood atop the conveyor belt with a "big stick", used to recover jammed items.
He selected and "scooped" up some items and dealt "differently" with them, setting up a bar in the facility for friends from his football club to visit.
Mr Pirrie submitted that while there were significant matters in mitigation, an immediate prison sentence was warranted.
Judge Maidment will sentence Donald Elgin, of Coburg North, and his son, of Greenvale, next week.
