Robert Connor: Hebersham man sentenced for stealing $11K lawnmower from The Mower Centre, Jamisontown

A “dipsh*t” removalist who thieved a ride-on lawnmower in the middle of the night has told the court he had failed as a business man.

A “dipsh*t” removalist who thieved a ride-on lawnmower in the middle of the night has told the court he had failed as a business man.

Robert Leslie Connor, 46, of Hebersham fronted Penrith Local Court this morning, via audiovisual link, pleaded guilty to drive while suspended, drive with an illicit substance, methylamphetamine, present in oral fluid and larceny.

The court heard he stole a lawnmower on February 16 from The Mower Centre, Jamisontown and returned it shortly after, claiming to have felt remorse on reflection.

The Mower Centre in Jamisontown. Picture: Google Maps.

Connor addressed the court and said: “I feel like a dipsh*t as it is, I failed as a businessman … I failed the community”.

Connor and his friend hired a U-Haul about 12:57am from a Colyton Shell Service Station and drove to The Mower Centre, arriving shortly before 1:50am on February 16.

They “pushed down the fence” before pushing a mower to their vehicle, court documents state.

Nepean Police saw the car leaving and followed them, pulling them over on Brown St where Connor’s mate legged it while Connor was arrested in the driver’s seat.

At the scene, Connor admitted to driving while suspended and taking the mower with his mate.

Connor’s lawyer said his client’s week in custody saw him reflect on his crimes.

“Being a business owner, he sees a lot of himself in the victim in this matter,” he said.

The lawyer also said prison wasn’t an appropriate sentence as the victim’s business hadn’t suffered significant harm.

Magistrate Fiona Toose did not see eye-to-eye with Connor’s lawyer about the removalist’s actions, especially after taking his record into account.

“This was a planned operation where he hires a U-Haul trailer, goes to the business and they load on the $11,000 mower to the trailer,” she said.

“They got caught so they gave it back … it’s not like he went ‘oh no, poor mower man’ and gave it back.

“You shouldn’t have been driving in the first place. You have an extensive history before the courts and have had a lot of interventions in regards to your drug history. You’ve served time in custody due to your offending behaviour. Your recent offences show a relapse.”

On September 24 last year, Connor was charged with driving a motor vehicle with meth present in oral fluid after police pulled him over for travelling 134km/h in a 90km zone on the M4 Motorway.

After returning a positive result for methamphetamine to the roadside oral fluid test, he was taken for oral fluid analysis at Granville police station, which also returned positive for meth.

The magistrate said prison was the only option given Connor’s history of noncompliance.

The magistrate said prison was the only option given Connor’s history of noncompliance.

“I accept you’ve had issues with your business folding but that doesn’t give you the right to ravage someone else‘s business. Anyone who has ever been robbed will tell you how devastating it is,” the magistrate said.

“I am not satisfied your prospects of rehabilitation are great because you were caught driving with an illicit substance in your system in September and that did not serve as a wake up call.

“You have breaches of bond, apprehended violence orders and two occasions where warrants have had to bring you before the courts.”

Citing community safety, Magistrate Toose handed down her verdict.

Connor was sentenced to 12 months jail with a non-parole period of 9 months.

He will be eligible for release in November.