Matthew Aaron Lusty trespassed at the Emu Park dump by cutting a hole in the fence

Under the cover of darkness, a man gained access to a council-owned facility by cutting a hole in the fence. Here’s the one item he was trying to get once he got inside.

A man who broke into the Emu Park refuse station at night has faced court for his offending.

Matthew Aaron Lusty, 41, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on May 5 to a trespass charge.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Kevin Ongheen said about 8.15pm on April 17, police saw a Mitsubishi Triton ute parked on a grassed embankment in front of Livingstone Shire Council’s Emu Park refuse station.

Sgt Ongheen said police patrolled the perimeter of the facility and found the fence had been cut close to where the Triton was.

Police found Lusty inside the refuse station facility and he was arrested.

“He (Lusty) said he was in there to obtain a wheel for his lawnmower, however denied cutting the fence,” Sgt Ongheen said.

The prosecutor tendered Lusty’s criminal history, saying it was “lengthy” and contained “a variety of offending.”

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale noted Lusty’s criminal history was nine pages long.

Representing himself in court, Lusty said he worked mowing lawns as well as receiving unemployment benefits, and on the night of this offence he was trying to obtain a lawnmower wheel for a job the next day.

He said he knew people at the refuse station but he did not get there during opening hours.

“Normally it would be all right within hours - I didn’t get there within hours so, what can I say?” Lusty said.

“I was in the wrong.”

Ms Beckinsale fined Lusty $300 and a conviction was recorded.