Thief labelled 'un-Australian'

A PROFESSIONAL fire twirler who helped steal $24,000 worth of gear from Fraser Island tourists has been labelled “un-Australian” and jailed for 18 months.

Jesse Dennis Osborne was jailed for 18 months for his part in stealing almost $24,000 from Fraser Island backpackers. Picture: Facebook

A PROFESSIONAL fire twirler who helped steal $24,000 worth of gear from Fraser Island tourists has been labelled "un-Australian" and jailed for 18 months.

Hervey Bay's Jesse Dennis Osborne, 22, and seven others conducted a massive assault on the tourism industry when they ransacked a storage shed containing 100 tourist backpacks.

They jemmied open the shed, at a Rainbow Beach backpacker resort, on the night of February 2 while the tourists were camping on Fraser Island.

The thieves were all Hervey Bay residents and mainly juveniles, besides Osborne and 26-year-old Daniel Mark Edelmann.

In the Hervey Bay District Court, Edelmann received an 18-month jail term for the crime.

Osborne, who used to be a fire twirler in a circus, was yesterday also jailed for his role when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on 22 stealing charges.

Magistrate Tom Killeen labelled Osborne's conduct "un-Australian".

"You didn't carry the Australian way of life very well," he said.

Mr Killeen went on to say the thefts would have given international and domestic tourists "a very poor regard for Hervey Bay".

The same night as they ransacked the shed at Dingo's Backpackers, Osborne and his group used a sledgehammer to break into a Rainbow Beach surf shop.

They stole 50 wallets, 35 handbags, 35 belts, 19 watches, a stash of clothing and two skateboards.

Police detectives found a significant amount of the property when they raided Osborne's Hervey Bay home a few days later.

In court, it was revealed that he and a number of the other suspects had been identified after being caught on CCTV footage.

Prosecutor Sergeant Michael Quirk said the total amount stolen from the 33 Fraser Island backpackers was $23, 888.

He asked that Osborne be made to pay back that amount.

But Osborne's lawyer Trinity McGarvie argued that Osborne had no way of paying the compensation, as he was unemployed and lived with his parents.

Ms McGarvie said her client wanted to return to work as a fire twirler with a circus in northern Queensland upon his release.

No order was made by the court for Osborne to pay restitution.

Osborne, who has been in custody for 156 days, will be released on parole on August 6.

Originally published as Thief labelled 'un-Australian'