Boat thief avoids prison time

A former Pingaring farmer with connections to farms in Narrogin and Hyden has narrowly avoided jail after he was caught stealing a $70,000 boat in Mandurah. Craig Stone, 46, appeared in the WA District Court last Tuesday charged with one count of stealing. State prosecutor Elisabeth Noonan told the court that sometime between November 25 and 28, 2016, a 28.5-foot fibreglass boat was stolen from a business in Wannanup. The court was told that about 10am on November 28, Stone was driving his four-wheel-drive with the boat in tow in Harvey when he encountered a problem with one of the boat trailer’s tyres. Stone spoke to a local resident and made arrangements to keep the boat at their property. After seeing a Facebook post about the stolen boat, the resident contacted police. Defence counsel Frances Veldman told the court Stone moved to Mandurah to be closer to his children after his marriage broke down. At the time of the incident, Stone was working for Western Power and he was also on bail for several other matters. Ms Veldman told the court that around the time Stone and his wife divorced, his family lost their 8000ha farm in Narrogin, as well as all other farm leases in Hyden, Katanning and Esperance due to Wesfarmers Landmarks selling rural loans. Stone first appeared in court in relation to the case on April 7, 2017. On October 31, 2017, before the trial was due to start, Stone pleaded guilty. During last week’s District Court hearing, the State was pushing for immediate imprisonment because the stolen property was of substantial value. However, Judge Amanda Burrows handed down an 18-month suspended prison term. Program and treatment conditions were imposed for Stone to seek help during his suspended term. If he commits an offence in the next 18 months, he will be re-sentenced to 15 months behind bars. “If you are breached for non-compliance, if you don’t attend supervision and you don’t go to your program, then you can be brought back and to be dealt with for any such breach,” Judge Burrows said. “If you fail to comply, you’re coming back before me if at all possible and I will be the one re-sentencing you. And I can assure you you’ll be going to jail next time if that happens.” Stone will face the Perth Magistrate’s Court on April 28 on unrelated charges.