Canadian-born model risks future Navy hopes with criminal conviction

A Canadian-born aspiring Navy sailor has pleaded with a Logan court to not record a conviction, after he admitted to betraying his former employer.

A model and aspiring Navy sailor who stole a $6000 bike from his employer, begged a magistrate not to record a criminal conviction, so he could join the Navy.

Bailey Walsh, 24, from Fortitude Valley, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh Magistrates Court to stealing by a clerk or servant.

The court heard that on June 7, 2021, Walsh, who was raised in Canada, stole a $6000 bike from his Shailer Park employer and was arrested by police on August 19.

Magistrate Ronald Kilner said the charge of stealing by a clerk or servant was considered extremely serious by the courts.

“You were placed in a position of trust, you abused that trust and that is far more serious than somebody not in that position,” he said.

“I acknowledge he has no priors but it is a serious matter, a considerable amount of money involved and although the offending is a singular instance, he could have returned that bike a lot earlier.

“If he was remorseful for the offending he would have given the bike back earlier, well before he was apprehended months later.”

Model and aspiring Navy sailor Bailey Walsh stole a $6000 bike from his employer

Magistrate Kilner said it was important to record a conviction even if it may affect Walsh’s chances of joining the Navy.

“Employers are entitled to know before they employ somebody that the potential employee has this sort of criminal behavior behind them.

“I acknowledge that you may wish to join the navy, but that in my opinion is not sufficient to justify not recording a conviction.”

Walsh admitted to using the bike himself and his employer wanted the full $6000 in restitution.

Walsh was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid community service, pay $4000 in restitution to his former employer and a conviction was recorded.