Timothy Luke Gipp jailed for stealing bird from Norlane shop

A homeless man has been jailed for a number of petty theft offences, which include stealing a cockatiel.

Timothy Gipp.

A “talented” homeless artist who stole a cockatiel from a bird shop in Norlane has been jailed.

Timothy Gipp, 45, pleaded guilty to theft charges in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday.

The court heard Gipp walked inside the Victorian Bird Company shop in Norlane last month, selected a bird valued at about $300 and left without paying.

Mr Gipp’s lawyer, Adrian Paull described the theft as a “strange offence”.

Mr Paull said his client entered the shop with no intention of stealing the bird, however, the bird jumped onto Gipp.

He said his client became friendly with the bird and walked out the shop without paying.

“The bird has approached him, this is not the case where he has actively reached into the cage,” Mr Paull said.

The bird was never recovered.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Stephanie Drake said Gipp was previously sentenced to a community corrections order in June this year.

On August 16 this year, Gipp was the passenger in a vehicle that had been stolen in an aggravated burglary.

The court heard at 1am, Gipp went to a BP station and stole two iced coffees valued at $9.

On November 16, Gipp was also seen by police stealing a bike from the Geelong railway station.

Mr Paull said his client’s offending was not at the most serious end, but was consistent with his long history.

He said Gipp had a “chaotic upbringing” and had experienced homelessness and instability for the past 20 years.

Mr Paull said his client was also a talented artist and was pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Magistrate Simon Guthrie jailed Gipp for 60 days.

Originally published as Timothy Luke Gipp jailed for stealing bird from Norlane shop