Thief appeals for earlier parole eligibility date

A GYMPIE thief, who stole more than $5000 worth of goods, has asked the Queensland Court of Appeal for an earlier parole eligibility date.

A GYMPIE thief, who stole more than $5000 worth of goods, has asked the Queensland Court of Appeal for an earlier parole eligibility date.

Cody Steven Hazelgrove, whose haul included about $500 worth of cosmetics from Coles, even took wheelbarrows to ferry the items he stole.

Hazelgrove, representing himself from prison, told the appeal court on Monday that he was "happy" with his 3.5 year head sentence handed down in Gympie District Court in February.

But felt his parole eligibility date did not reflect his guilty plea and how quickly the matter reached a conclusion.

Hazelgrove is not eligible for parole until October, 2014, which is 19 months into his sentence.

Offenders who plead guilty often only have to serve a third of their sentence.

The Court of Appeal reserved its judgment.