Sting nabs three-time offender

A BELL Park man was caught with stolen property in a police sting aimed at catching a rogue online salesman.

Brock Smith, 32, was also driving while disqualified with a welder, iPad and laptop computer in his car when apprehended in March.

It was one of three times police caught Smith driving in the three months after he lost his licence in January.

“This is not stupidity; it’s just contempt,” prosecutor Senior Constable Chris Capuano told Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Smith, a plasterer, pleaded guilty to three counts of driving disqualified, dealing with stolen property and drug driving.

Magistrate John Lesser heard his arrest in March happened after a Geelong tradesman told police tools stolen from him were being advertised for sale on Gumtree.

Posing as a buyer, an investigator arranged to meet the vendor, who identified himself as “Brian” and said he would be driving a gold Holden Statesman.

Smith was seen driving in the area in a car matching that description, and stolen property, including the welder, was found, the court was told.

He told police he had not stolen the items, but had bought them on Gumtree.

Smith was ordered to do 200 hours of community work, complete offender and road trauma programs and his licence disqualification was extended by nine months.