Scott Norman Jones pleads guilty to theft after pawning Nintendo Switch
Pawning a stolen portable gaming system for $150 during a fight over trading cards has turned into a costly exercise for a Queensland father of two who now must pay a hefty fine.
Police & Courts
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A 31-year-old father of two is now more than $1000 out of pocket after stealing a friend’s Nintendo Switch and hocking it at a pawn shop for $150 cash.
Scott Norman Jones pleaded guilty in Gympie Magistrates Court to stealing and fraud which happened between June 1, 2022 and November 17, 2022.
He also breached a probation order in April 2024.
Police Prosecutor Allison Johnstone told the court Jones had stolen the Switch from a woman he was formerly friends with.
He then exchanged it at a Nambour Cash Converters shop on November 17.
Defence lawyer Chris Anderson told the court Jones had hocked the item for money to spend on his own two children.
He said the relationship had already been on the out due to a dispute over trading cards.
Mr Anderson said his client had made “some progress” in becoming a better parent by undertaking a Uniting Care program, to allow him to spend time with his children.
Jones had also completed a construction course, but at the moment was receiving Jobseeker payments.
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“He tells me he needed the money in order to buy things for his children,” Mr Anderson said.
Magistrate Bevan Hughes said there were “lawful ways” for him to give support to his children.
“You can’t take stuff that’s not yours, it’s that simple,” Mr Hughes said.
He fined Jones $850 for the three offences, recorded convictions, and ordered he pay $150 restitution to Cash Converters as the Nintendo had been returned to its rightful owner.
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