Corey Michael Richards told police he saw the phone unattended on a pokie machine and put it in his pocket

The man lied to police and told them he had returned the phone to the victim on the night.

Corey Michael Richards, 45, pleaded guilty to four charges in the Gladstone Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

A man who stole a mobile phone from the gaming room of a popular establishment faced Gladstone Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Corey Michael Richards, 45, pleaded guilty to stealing, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing utensils or pipes that had been used and obstructing police.

Richards’ stealing offence occurred on June 8, around 4.30pm, at the Yaralla Sports Club, Barney Point.

The victim was playing the pokies and put his mobile phone, a Samsung A32, down on a machine.

After playing the machine the victim got up and left his mobile phone on the machine, however, realised it was missing upon his return.

The victim called his phone from another person’s phone and it was answered, however, no one spoke.

The victim attempted to call again but the phone had been turned off.

Police obtained CCTV footage of the offence which depicted Richards approaching the machine shortly after the victim had left.

Richards picked up the victim’s phone and put it in his pocket before playing the same machine the victim was then moving on a short time later.

On June 25, around 12.04pm, police executed a search warrant at Richards’ address on Yaralla Street, Barney Point.

Police detained Richards and searched the address, locating two Yaralla Sports Club cards in the name of the defendant.

When questioned, Richards said he was aware of the matter and claimed he had found a phone on a pokie machine and put it in his pocket.

Richards claimed the victim rang his phone and he spoke with the victim, arranging to give the phone back to the victim.

Richards stated the victim immediately walked into the pokie room and that he gave the phone back to the victim.

Police contacted the victim who confirmed the person who answered the phone never said anything and his phone was never returned.

Richards was convicted and fined $1200 for all offences, with the drug paraphernalia forfeited to the Crown for destruction. Convictions were recorded.