Armed turtle thief gets jail
A MAN who was caught with a loaded handmade pistol while stealing a taxidermy turtle has been sentenced to jail.
Matthew Nicholson, 43, of Whittington, appeared in Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday on charges including theft and possessing prohibited weapons.
The court had heard the events started at Bunnings in Norlane on July 6, when Nicholson “selected two small lengths of galvanised pipe, two metal springs” and placed them in his backpack and left the store without paying.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Peter Beard said: “Half an hour later he attended a store called How Bazaar . . . as he walked around he selected brooches, necklaces and stickers, and placed them in his pockets.
“He then picked up a turtle — a taxidermy turtle — and exited the store without paying for the items.”
The court heard staff at the store later “saw him riding off on his bicycle with a turtle under his arm”.
Sgt Beard said staff had tried to restrain him until police arrived. “A struggle ensued where the accused attempted to remove the metal pipe he’d stolen from Bunnings from his backpack but two staff members managed to get it from him.”
When police arrived they searched his backpack and found a homemade metal pipe pistol.
“It had been made from a piece of galvanised metal pipe,” Sgt Beard said.
“The pipe had been screwed together, had been installed with a spring, a firing pin and a trigger and the barrel contained a shotgun cartridge.
“That pistol was loaded, cocked and ready to be discharged.”
The court yesterday heard Nicholson, who had been in custody for 81 days, had been off drugs and was rehabilitating well in prison.
In sentencing, Magistrate John Lesser said he was pleased to hear Nicholson “was feeling a whole lot sharper” but given the charges he would have to impose a further term of imprisonment.
“You appear to have increased motivation to do well when you get out . . . and I appreciate that,” Mr Lesser said. “I commend you on that and hope you’ll be able to follow through. Keep that motivation. I think you can do it so just keep at it.”
Nicholson was sentenced to 12 months in prison with a non-parole period of five months, and a 12-month community corrections order.