A MAN who tried to sell a stolen chainsaw through online site Gumtree has been placed on a corrections order after being found with a wide range of stolen goods.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ross Michael Tepper, 35, of Penshurst-Warrnambool Road, Koroit, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to handling stolen goods.
He has to complete a 12-month corrections order with conditions he do 80 hours community work and treatment and rehabilitation.
Police said that on December 4 last year a victim saw his stolen chainsaw for sale on Gumtree and contacted police.
He then contacted the man trying to sell the chainsaw, Tepper, went to his Woodford district property and revealed he owned the stolen saw.
Tepper offered to return the chainsaw and asked police not be involved.
When interviewed by police Tepper revealed who he bought the chainsaw off and said he did not issue a receipt as he took the man at his word.
On February 9 police raided Tepper's property on the Warrnambool-Penshurst Road and found him hiding under a tree.
When asked if there were any stolen goods at the property, Tepper told police there were goods in a garden shed and large garage.
Property recovered included three firearms and a large number of tools, including power tools, some of which had been stolen from the St Joseph's Church in Warrnambool.
Tepper said all the goods belonged to an associate and he allowed them to be stored on his property in exchange for drugs.
He said he didn't want to know about who owned the property, didn't know guns were stored there and solicitor Michele Downs said her client had engaged in an element of willful blindness.
She said depression and the end of a marriage led to Tepper engaging in drug use.
Ms Downs said Tepper had successfully completed a CCO two years ago and requested a similar penalty.
Magistrate John Lesser said he hoped that Tepper's offending could be nipped in the bud through the imposition of another corrections order and that he would not be seen in court again.
