A MAN who bought a stolen ride-on lawn mower that was taken from a home he had previously worked at has been fined $1000.
Daniel Robert Farquhar, 32, from Warrenheip, appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday, where he pleaded guilty to dishonestly receiving stolen goods.
The court heard that an acquaintance of Farquhar broke into a shed on a Napoleons property on the night of January 28 this year.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Michelle Burnett said the man stole a near-new yellow Hustler ride-on mower worth $5800, which had been used only once.
Less than two months later police found the mower on a trailer attached to Farquhar’s car and he was subsequently arrested.
Farquhar told police he bought it for $2000 from a man at Victoria Park. He admitted he had been to the victim’s house previously to provide a quote for fencing, and he knew that the mower was stolen.
Defence lawyer Scott Belcher urged the court not to convict his client, saying that Farquhar was an honest man who regretted the entire incident.
He said Farquhar had been given a series of lectures from his wife and employer.
Mr Belcher added that his client had made a spontaneous but stupid decision to buy the stolen mower.
Farquhar, a father of two, was sentenced to a 12-month good behaviour bond without conviction.
Magistrate Kay Robertson also ordered him to pay $1000 to the court fund.
