Andrew Simon Harvie sentenced for string of offences

A Tinbeerwah man’s descent into a crime spree after becoming involved with “proper criminals” has been revealed in court.

Andrew Simon Harvie leaving Noosa Magistrates Court.

The relative of a high profile property developer who “can’t afford rego on his car” has been remanded in custody after descending into an unrestrained bout of crime across the Sunshine Coast.

Andrew Simon Harvie, 54, pleaded guilty to a string of charges including one burglary offence, an enter premise and commit and two unlawful use of motor vehicle offences in Noosa Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Appearing via video link from the watch-house in Maroochydore where he was remanded on April 12 due to his “persistent breaching of bail”, Harvie was represented by lawyer Bernard Bradley.

Mr Bradley said Harvie had suffered from broken ribs after he fell from a scooter travelling 30km/h on April 10 while he was on his way to the hospital for treatment for a dislocated shoulder.

Police prosecutor Allison Johnstone told the court Harvie had a criminal history for drug offences and had been “stockpiling offences of dishonesty” since September 2022.

Andrew Simon Harvie pictured at Noosa Magistrates Court.

Included in his list of offences was his involvement in entering a premises and stealing chainsaws, power tools, socket sets and hand tools as well as having in his possession a stolen box trailer, Harley Davidson motorbike and an e-bike worth $8000 which was discovered when a warrant was executed on November 21, 2022.

“When he speaks to police he tends to minimise his involvement, however he is the one who has the property with him when police execute the search warrant,” Sergeant Johnstone said.

Stolen drone related items worth $6500 were also located at Harvie’s premises.

Mr Bradley told the court Harvie had also suffered depression which coincided with “becoming involved with these proper criminals”.

Mr Bradley told the court Harvie’s wife of 15 years died four years ago after a battle with cancer and that he worked in building and construction for his father-in-law’s company who is “responsible for the construction of a number of high-care nursing homes in this region”.

“His father in law after the passing of his wife, employed him for a number of years and indeed when I first personally met Mr Harvie was a social occasion where he did turn up to a golf club in a Bentley that was owned by his father-in -law,” Mr Bradley said.

“Even during a round of golf I saw him drink two entire bottles of white wine and then disappear before the round was finished.

“He was really struggling.”

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist said prison sentences were of last resort as there were no “violent offences” and he was taking into account “the mitigating circumstances including sadness and losing your wife and the departing from the tracks in that regard”.

Harvie was sentenced to prison for periods ranging from one to 12 months for the offences but given immediate parole for 12 months.

He was disqualified from driving for four and a half years.

Restitution was also ordered by the court.

Convictions were recorded.