Man in Gladstone court for stealing $523 toothbrush from pharmacy

A convicted bomb detonator has returned to a Central Queensland court – this time for flogging a fancy toothbrush from a local pharmacy and putting it somewhere other than his mouth.

Jay Conan Marsh faced Gladstone Magistrates Court on November 6.

When Jay Conan Marsh flogged a $523 toothbrush from a Gladstone pharmacy, he was oblivious to its price tag, a court has heard.

Previously convicted for detonating bombs at a Gladstone mother’s home, the 43-year-old found himself back in court on November 6 where he pleaded guilty to one count each of stealing and possessing a knife in public.

Gladstone Magistrates Court heard Marsh stole the expensive electric Oral-B toothbrush from Priceline Pharmacy Kin Kora on September 14 by putting it down his pants.

Then on August 2, Marsh was walking home from a mate’s place about 11.20pm, when police stopped him on the Dawson Highway and found a kitchen knife in his backpack.

Jay Conan Marsh.

The court heard Marsh had an “extensive” nine-page criminal history which included previous dishonesty offences, and he was on Newstart Allowance with a $12,000 SPER debt.

A solicitor for Marsh explained the motivation for the toothbrush theft and also the knife possession.

“His friends and family, for quite a while, have belittled him and ridiculed him over his bad breath and teeth,” the solicitor said.

The solicitor said Marsh was oblivious to its cost.

In relation to the knife, the solicitor said Marsh’s “whole life is in his backpack” and he used it to cut tomatoes.

Magistrate Mary Buchanan sentenced Marsh to one month jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of nine months.

Ms Buchanan made a forfeiture order for the knife but not for the toothbrush.

Convictions were recorded.