‘Too good to be true deal’ costs man $8000

THE old adage that if a deal sounds too good to be true it probably is, was true for a Flagstone Creek man who said he bought a skidsteer loader that turned out to be stolen.

Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard the skidsteer loader was stolen from an excavation equipment hire business in Toowoomba some time between September 28 and November last year.

Police investigations led to the Flagstone Creek property of mechanic Steven David Seefeld, police prosecutor Nikola Prince told the court.

The skidsteer was housed in a shed and when asked about it the 41-year-old said he had bought it for $7000 from a man named Russell who had since died, she said.

He told police the price was cheap for the equipment and thought it may have been stolen property, Ms Prince said.

Seefeld pleaded guilty to one count of receiving tainted property.

His solicitor Andrea Hohn, of CLO Lawyers, told the court her client owned his own business and worked up to seven days a week and also helped his wife with her horse riding business.

Her client was remorseful and had made a poor decision when he took possession of the skidsteer, she said.

Through three references handed to the court, people spoke highly of him, Ms Hohn submitted.

This was one error of judgment and it was unlikely her client would be back before the court, she said.

Magistrate Graham Lee accepted Seefeld was remorseful and fined him $1000 with no conviction recorded.