Dustin Robert Mason fronts court for stealing

Hear why a father-of-four was fined for picking up a child’s gaming console left in a Noosa shopping centre while the youngster enjoyed an Easter egg session.

A dad-of-four who stole a Nintendo Switch after a child put it down while eating an Easter egg has been fined for his act.

Noosa police prosecutor Alison Johnstone said Dustin Robert Mason, 35, picked up the gaming console out the front of a Woolworths at the Noosa Village Shopping Centre on April 17, 2022.

She said the child had put the Nintendo Switch, worth $400, on the ground as he ate an Easter egg and then walked off.

“By the time the victim realised what happened, the gaming console had been left unattended there for about 10 minutes,” Sergeant Johnstone said.

The police prosecutor said Mason was then filmed on CCTV picking up the gaming console and pocketing it, with five children and a woman in tow.

Dustin Robert Mason pleaded guilty to one count of stealing in Noosa Magistrates Court on June 7.

“He then completes his shopping and returns to his vehicle and drives off,” Sergeant Johnstone said.

The police prosecutor said police tracked Mason to his home through his car registration.

The defendant was not home when police visited on May 17 so they executed a search warrant but were unable to find the gaming console.

Sergeant Johnstone said police then called the defendant, who said he still had the Nintendo Switch but was unsure where it was.

The police prosecutor said on May 19, the defendant handed over the gaming console at Noosa Police Station and declined an interview.

He said he was always going to hand it in but got sidetracked.

Mason pleaded guilty to one count of stealing.

Duty lawyer Bernard Bradley said the delivery driver picked up the gaming console and intended to hand it in at the shopping centre but got sidetracked looking after the children in his care.

“He thought he’d do his shopping first and then hand the Switch in and it completely slipped his mind,” he said.

“He has no previous for dishonesty, this appears to be totally out of character.”

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist said there were no prior dishonesty offences and the property was back with its owner.

He was fined $400 in Noosa Magistrates Court on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 and a conviction was not recorded.