Dustin Earl McGowan faces Bowen court for Collinsville stealing offences

‘One bad day on the drink’ has cost a Collinsville dad his job at a mine near Dysart, as well as a happy Christmas with his kids.

A North Queensland mine operator who quit his job in embarrassment after stealing from co-workers has told a court he will not be able to afford Christmas gifts for his children this year.

Dustin Earl McGowan, 36, pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing, and one count of wilful damage after removing external fittings from two cars parked at the Lake Vermont camp at Dysart in the early hours of the morning on November 4.

Dustin Earl McGowan pleaded guilty to stealing and wilful damage. Picture: Facebook

Bowen Magistrates Court heard CCTV cameras captured McGowan taking items including a tyre cover, tow ball, part of a UHF antenna, two awnings, and a mounting bracket from a Toyota Prado and a Toyota Landcruiser, putting the items on the roof racks of his own car and driving away between 2am and 2.15am.

Police found some of the items at McGowan’s Collinsville home about a week later, and he told them the items unable to be recovered had probably fallen off his roof racks as he had not tied them down.

McGowan worked at the Lake Vermont open-cut coal mine for 11 years before resigning because of a drunken incident. Picture: Facebook

Defence lawyer Peta Vernon told the court her client was intoxicated at the time and had no other explanation for the offending.

She said McGowan had worked at the mine as an operator for the past 11 years but had resigned as a result of the incident.

“He was embarrassed and ashamed of his actions”, Ms Vernon said.

“He doesn’t know these people, he had no beef with them, he doesn’t know why he chose to steal.”

Magistrate James Morton noted McGowan had previous convictions for stealing, enter premises with intent, and assault occasioning bodily harm, but said the latest incident was “a very odd turn of events” and a waste of a good career with mining company Thiess.

“11 years and you had one bad day on the drink … Are you kicking yourself?” he asked the father of two, who was yet to find a new job.

“It [11 years] is quite a remarkable feat because the mining industry’s up and down, Thiess are the ones that usually shut down and send people packing because of a downturn in coal …”

The court heard McGowan had previous convictions for stealing, enter premises with intent, and assault occasioning bodily harm. Picture: Facebook

When McGowan confirmed his loss of employment meant his 11 year old and 13 year old would get “nothing” from him for Christmas, Mr Morton told him: “You’re a disgrace”.

“What sort of a parent doesn’t buy their kids Christmas presents? Have you had a look at yourself in the mirror?” he asked.

The sentence was a $1000 fine, plus a $581.99 restitution order.

Convictions were recorded.