AN unsuccessful fisherman who stole goldfish from a private pond at Allansford has been convicted and fined $400.
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Michael Redmond, 34, of Lynden Grove, Warrnambool, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to theft and trespass.
Police said that at 10am on July 29 Redmond went to a Grauers Road property in Allansford.
He took a net off a pond and used it to catch goldfish, which he put in his car and took home.
When police went to his home they found Redmond had large gold fish in a tank.
On September 6 Redmond took the fish back to the pond owner.
He told police he had been fishing on the day, but been unsuccessful and then stopped near the pond to look after his daughter.
He said the offending had been opportunistic and Redmond also admitted prior offending.
Magistrate Cynthia Toose said the problem started when Redmond continued fishing after he pulled over on the side of the road.
“You simply can’t take someone’s goldfish from their front yard. People own and enjoy them,” she said.
The magistrate said the fishing tip had finished up being an expensive day out.
