Good Samaritan robbed He stole jewellery and cash from a friend who gave him a home

A MAN who took advantage of a friend who had given him a roof over his head by stealing her jewellery and cash has been placed on a probation order to address his offending and drug problem.

Justin Lee Rummell had been sleeping on a mattress on the floor of the complainant woman’s North Toowoomba home, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

The woman home occupant had put on jewellery before going out last Saturday night but when she got up the next morning she found some of her jewellery as well as $60 from her wallet and some other cash had been missing.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Tim Hutton told the court that when confronted by the complainant, Rummell, 34, allegedly told her she had a better chance of getting back her jewellery if she didn’t tell police about the incident.

Sgt Hutton said $1310 worth of jewellery and cash had not been recovered and police sought that amount in restitution.

Rummell was found by police behind an unoccupied business building in Neil St on Sunday and taken into custody.

He appeared in court to plead guilty to charges arising from the theft of the jewellery and cash as well as to threatening a man and a woman on Norwood St, North Toowoomba, about 10pm, December 11, by waving a large kitchen knife around.

Police called by the couple to the scene found Rummell but no knife, the court heard.

However, when police found a steak knife under a bush nearby, the 34-year-old admitted he had had the knife for protection.

Duty solicitor Shane MacDonald said in relation to the knife incident his client had known the other man and that he had been fearful when the other man approached him that night.

His client had needed money which was why he had taken the jewellery which he had intended to return, he said.

His client had become involved in the use of illicit drugs which had led to his offending, Mr MacDonald said.

Acting Magistrate Roger Stark noted Rummell had seven pages of criminal history but that he had successfully worked through a six-month probation order in the past.

Mr Stark placed Rummell on a 12-month probation order and ordered he make restitution of $1310 for the victim.