Evicted couple accused of stealing estimated $100k of furniture from mansion

A former used car salesman and his partner have been charged over an alleged large-scale theft at a waterfront mansion in the Queensland beachside town of Noosa.

Darren Wayne Rudkin and Farrah De Gelder are each charged with aggravated stealing, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 10 to 14 years’ jail in Queensland.

Both are before the courts, accused of a crime that allegedly occurred at a mansion overlooking the Noosa River at Tewantin, owned by Paul Garratt.

Darren Wayne Rudkin and his partner Farrah De Gelder, who are charged with aggravated stealing.

Garratt claimed he was introduced to Rudkin as a financial consultant who quickly took a liking to the property.

“He and his partner, Farrah [De Gelder], said, ‘Paul, we love that property. We’ll move into it and we’ll look after it like it was our own property’,” Garratt said.

But he said the pair failed to pay rent and refused to leave until he had them legally evicted through the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

When they finally departed, he alleged almost all the furniture was stolen, with an estimated total value of more than $100,000.

“I almost passed out from the shock because I was so excited to get my house back and all the beautiful contents, and there were no contents left,” Garratt told A Current Affair.

“I was staggered.”

Police executed a search warrant at the couple’s new address, where they allegedly discovered half the missing furniture.

Rudkin, 53, has pleaded not guilty. De Gelder, 47, was expected also to plead not guilty.

During their appearance at Noosa Magistrates’ Court, Rudkin hurled abuse in the foyer, before asking the magistrate for a suppression order on his case, which was rejected.

The case was adjourned to allow the pair to seek legal aid representation and was set down for a committal mention in April.

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