Billy Ian Field, 23, of Adamstown, jailed for nicking dirty clothing from laundry at block of flats

A man was caught wearing a T-shirt he’d just nicked from a pile of dirty laundry in a block of Sydney units, by the resident who owned the clothing. See what happened in court

The block of units in Fairlight where Billy Ian Field was caught wearing a T-shirt he had stolen from the communal laundry room at the rear of the building. Picture: Google Maps

A man sprung wearing a T-shirt he had just nicked from a pile of dirty washing in a communal laundry room at a block of flats on the northern beaches, has been jailed for theft.

Billy Ian Field, 23, was high on “meth” when he and a mate helped themselves to the attire at the units in Fairlight.

But as Field, from Adamstown, a suburb of Newcastle, was leaving the laundry at the rear of the unit block in Fairlight Cres, the man who owned the shirt was walking in.

Manly Local Court heard on Thursday that the startled resident asked Field why he was wearing his shirt.

Field replied “I’m sorry”, took off the shirt and put it back in the laundry.

Billy Ian Field was rummaging through clothes in the communal laundry room. Picture: Supplied

The court was told that Field, who appeared via video link because he is in jail on separate charges, and his co-accused, had been swimming at Manly Beach earlier on Sunday, April 23.

His Legal Aid lawyer said they had both taken the illicit drug “meth” and that his friend had become convinced that they were being followed by police.

A police facts sheet tendered to court stated that the pair entered the laundry room, closed the door and began “to rummage through” clothing belonging to residents of the unit block.

Two residents, the man and a woman, tried to open the door at 4pm, but heard a voice say “I’m trying to get changed”.

Several minutes later Field and his friend emerged from the laundry and the two residents saw not only Field wearing the man’s T-shirt, but clothing and laundry bags scattered across the floor.

Police arrived soon after and searched Field. They found him with a pair of blue Asics brand shoes, a silver watch, a blue jumper with a price tag attached, an iPhone and permanent marker pens, according to the facts sheet.

Field told police he had bought the jumper off a homeless man for $50 and that someone had given him the mobile phone.

Billy Ian Field was jailed by Manly Local Court for five months. . (AAP IMAGE / MONIQUE HARMER)

Another female resident told police that she recognised the blue shoes as hers and that they were missing from her front door.

Field pleaded guilty to one count each of larceny; goods in custody suspected of being stolen, trespass and, possession of graffiti implements.

His solicitor said that Field had a disadvantaged upbringing, had battled drug addiction issues most of his life and was “certainly well affected by illicit drugs” on the day of the offending.

Magistrate Robyn Denes took into account that he had been in custody since the day of his arrest and that his parole on previous charges had been revoked when she convicted him.

He was sentenced to a five month aggregate jail sentence, beginning April 24 this year.