Samuel Bugg: Young truck driver’s ‘opportunistic’ deception over motorbike uncovered by police

A young truck driver from the state’s central west has been sentenced after attempting to retrieve a motorbike he had sold to a victim.

Samuel Bugg appeared in Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday.

A young truck driver has escaped a conviction after an “opportunistic” and “silly one-off mistake” when he concocted a ‘fake’ break and enter in an effort to retrieve a motorbike he sold to a victim.

Samuel Bugg, 21, appeared in Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday after he was arrested on September 28 and charged with dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception and false representation resulting in police investigation. He pleaded guilty to both charges.

According to documents tendered to court, Bugg bought the 2011 Honda CRF 450R in January for $5900 with $3500 owing in finance to Yamaha.

Dubbo Local Court.

Bugg then advertised the motorbike on Facebook marketplace in July, listing it for $4500.

Later in the month, the victim reached out to Bugg, negotiating on the price, and finally settling on $3200.

About 4.30pm on July 31, the victim attended Bugg’s address on Coral Cr in Dubbo, paying for the motorbike in cash, and while being $50 short, the pair settled on a price of $3150.

Several days later on August 5, the victim was riding the motorbike when he collided with another vehicle as police were called to the scene.

The bike was seized and placed into a police holding yard.

The victim then reached out to Bugg on August 10, asking for a receipt or a way of proving he had lawfully purchased the bike so it could be returned to him.

Bugg replied “pretending to be his girlfriend, stating he had been arrested and would not be out of custody for a month’ before making inquiries about the condition of the bike.

Agreed facts revealed on August 13, Bugg reported to police his motorbike had been stolen after his garage was broken into.

He spoke with the police assistance line later that day to make a formal report.

Bugg told operators he wasn’t in Dubbo but he knew the bike was being kept in the holding yard and wanted it to be returned.

Police attended Bugg’s address to determine whether a forensic assessment was possible, however it was deemed unsuitable.

Samuel Bugg appeared in Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday, November 23.

Bugg’s ex-girlfriend provided a statement to police to support his claim of a break and enter and the bike was returned to him on August 31, “as he was still believed to be the victim”.

The very next day, the victim visited Dubbo police station, asking when he would be able to get his bike back with officers questioning where he had purchased it from.

The victim produced messages between himself and Bugg with a statement given to police on September 5.

Police contacted Bugg in late September asking that he visit the police station to further investigate the motorbike.

He was then arrested on September 28 at Dubbo police station and entered into custody where he made full admissions to making a false report.

On Wednesday, Bugg’s lawyer Thomas Payne said his client made a “silly one-off mistake which was opportunistic”.

“Bugg made full admissions to what had happened when interviewed by police,” Mr Payne said.

He told the court his client has shown remorse for his actions, evidenced through his admissions to police when he was ultimately arrested.

Although noting there was a “relative degree of criminality involved”, Mr Payne said the victim is not at a loss, given the motorbike is in possession of police.

Mr Payne said Bugg is well regarded and has a limited criminal history, saying he is unlikely to reoffend.

“It’s just an act of stupidity … [he thought] he’d get away with it,” Magistrate Gary Wilson said.

Bugg was subsequently placed on a two year conditional release order without conviction.