Curtis Adams sentenced over 40 tonne grain theft

A farmer helped himself to a massive 40 tonnes of another man’s grain during a bumper harvest thought he’d gotten away with it until one wrong move.

Curtis Adams, 33, leaves Parkes Local Court. Picture: Ryan Young

A Narromine man who took a whopping 40 tonnes of grain from another farmer’s property in the dark of night and was caught after rolling the truck he stole it in during a “stupid brain snap”, a court has heard.

Curtis John Adams drove his Kentworth prime mover and two trailers to Alexander Ballhausen’s property ‘Wilga’ on The McGrane Way between Tullamore and Narromine in the early hours of November 30.

The rolled truck which led police to Adams. Picture: NSW Police

In court documents, police said 33-year-old Adams went to silos located five kilometres from the entrance to the property and removed 40 tonnes of the harvested wheat.

At 8am the next morning police were told Adam’s prime mover rolled onto its side at the intersection of Fairview Road and The McGrane Way at Narromine.

After the truck rolled in the early hours of the morning, police discovered Adams had sent an SMS to the son of a Dubbo-based heavy vehicle recovery and towing company operator, asking for help to clean up his mess.

An unnamed witness helped Adams salvage about 25 tonnes of the grain which spilt and took a photo of the prime mover and trailer.

Police searched Adams’s property on December 2 and found a grain trailer with the stolen grain it.

The trailer was seized and police later found Adams’s fingerprints on equipment used to steal the grain.

When he was arrested on December 3, Adams confessed and apologised.

“I don’t know what came over me,” he told police.

In January at Parkes Local Court Adams pleaded guilty to larceny and negligent driving charges.

Defence solicitor Paul McGirr said Adams made a “foolish and fatal error”.

“He’s not very good at what he’s actually done,” Mr McGirr said.

“He will be forever known as a thief … one of the worst things you can be known as in a country town is a thief.”

Curtis Adams (right), 33, with defence solicitor Paul McGirr. Picture: Ryan Young

Mr McGirr said farmers had a bumper harvest season and Adams found the temptation to pocket some of the proceeds “too great”.

“It was a stupid brain snap.

“He’s devastated by this.”

Shortly after the theft, the court heard Adams agreed to pay Mr Ballhausen $10,000 for the stolen grain.

Mr McGirr said because police seized Adam’s property, he would end up being out of pocket about $30,000.

Curtis Adams has agreed to pay the farmer he stole grain from. Picture: Ryan Young

Police prosecutor Sergeant Donna Rayner urged Magistrate Michael Crompton to send Adams to jail.

“The business that was run by the complainant has been significantly affected,” she said.

“This particular matter is something that has raised significant community interest in this area.

“People are reliant on primary producers and they are particularly vulnerable in these locations. Rural crime is often significantly difficult to detect.”

Magistrate Crompton noted Adams had a limited criminal record, however he said the theft would have involved some level of planning.

“It’s a matter where a community service order is appropriate,” he said.

On March 22, at Central Local Court in Sydney Magistrate Crompton convicted Adams and sentenced him to a 12-month community corrections order and 60 hours of community service. He was also fined $200.