Todd Boor in Gladstone court for Rio Tinto copper crime

A man who cashed in 134kg of copper, believed stolen from Rio Tinto Aluminium in Central Queensland, says a friend put him up to it.

Todd William Cornwell Boor told police: “It was a dumb idea, I only did it because he paid me $200 to do it for him.”

A man who cashed in 134kg of stolen copper at a Gladstone scrap metal business has paid for his “dumb” crime.

Todd William Cornwell Boor, 36, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on July 4 to one count of unlawful possession of suspected stolen property.

Police prosecutor Kelvin Boyd said on May 8, Boor cashed in copper suspected of having been stolen from Rio Tinto Aluminium on May 5, for $1500 cash.

The court heard a friend had given Boor the copper and convinced him to cash it in, with Boor to receive $200 for his efforts.

Mr Boyd said when questioned, Boor told police he was suspicious that his friend did not tell him where the copper came from, and why his friend wanted him to cash it in on his behalf.

Mr Boyd said Boor told officers: “It was a dumb idea, I only did it because he paid me $200 to do it for him.”

The court heard Boor had stealing offences on his criminal history.

Solicitor Rio Ramos said Boor was a single father who had been living in Gladstone for five years, and he worked as an arborist.

Ms Ramos said Boor had not been before a court since November, 2020.

Acting Magistrate Stephen Byrne fined Boor $700 and a conviction was recorded.