Robert Kearns, 41, from Mooroopna, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to drug driving, two counts of possessing cannabis, dishonestly retaining stolen goods and dealing with property suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Fiona Kennedy told the court police found a Suzuki motorcycle, Metabo cordless drill, Metabo battery charger, Metabo cordless angle grinder, tig welder, police crime scene tape, and a Kendo screwdriver set, socket set and pliers when they searched Kearns’ home on September 9, 2019.
The motorbike was stolen in a December 2018 burglary, while the Metabo power tools were stolen from a vehicle in August 2019.
In a police interview, Kearns said he bought the motorbike from a friend for $1100, and that he had bought the Metabo tools from a friend.
He said he bought the Kendo tools at Bunnings, but a check with Bunnings found it does not stock the brand.
Kearns also told police he borrowed the tig welder from a friend, and the police tape was not real as it was not reflective.
The court heard police found loose chopped cannabis in a plastic bag on Kearns’ bed when they searched his Mooroopna house on October 4, 2019.
He was also caught drug driving on the Midland Hwy at Mooroopna on May 22, 2021.
Kearns’ solicitor Susie Crowe said the father-of-four had had people “hanging around his house” when he was charged with dishonestly retaining stolen goods and dealing with property suspected to be the proceeds of crime, but that he “no longer had ties to those associates”.
Ms Crowe said apart from the drug driving charge last year, the other charges were now quite old.
Kearns was fined $1000 and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
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