James Freeman: Sussex Inlet man stole and sold bobcat from employer

A meth addict who stole a bobcat from his employer, hiding it in the bush before selling it for $4000 has been sentenced for the “spontaneous” heist.

James Freeman stole the bobcat from Berry-based Lynche’s Construction.

A man who “spontaneously” planned to steal a bobcat from his workplace has been sentenced, after hiding the stolen machinery in the bush and selling it for just $4000.

The incident saw James Freeman, 42, appear before the Nowra Local Court on Tuesday, pleading guilty to stealing a motor vehicle and disposing of the stolen vehicle.

Documents tendered to the court reveal Freeman worked as a casual labourer at Lynch’s Construction in Berry for two months, before he planned to steal a CAT Skid Steer bobcat excavator worth $80,000 brand new.

Agreed facts state Freeman hired a trailer from the area before driving to the business in the early hours of April 15 and parking the trailer next to the bobcat.

Freeman then returned to the machinery the next morning, driving it onto the trailer before leaving the area with the machinery.

James Freeman was sentenced in Nowra Local Court on Tuesday.

Agreed facts state the 42-year-old man then hid the bobcat in bushes on Black Butt Range Rd, before driving away.

A few days later, he brought a potential buyer to the hidden location of the machinery, who agreed to purchase the stolen bobcat for only $4000.

The court did not hear, nor did documents reveal, whether the buyer knew the machinery was stolen.

Lynche’s Construction contacted police during this time to report the $80,000 excavator missing.

Following initial investigations by the South Coast Police District, on October 9, officers met with the buyer who informed them who sold them the machinery.

Following further investigations, police visited Freeman’s Sussex Inlet home on January 2 and he admitted to the offence.

Agreed facts state he informed police how he stole the bobcat, why he stole the bobcat, who he stole it from and how much he sold it for.

In court on Tuesday, Freeman’s lawyer Matthew Zappia said his client was someone who struggled with drugs, noting he was now clean. The court heard he would previously spend upwards of $700 a day on methamphetamine.

He asked the court to consider this when sentencing, before noting the theft was “opportunistic” and “spontaneous”.

However, Magistrate Lisa Viney disagreed with the theft being opportunistic, noting it was planned.

“He hired a trailer the day before and found a buyer,” she said.

“There was planning involved.”

Freeman was ultimately convicted, sentenced to a 12 month intensive corrections order, ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay Lynche’s Construction $2000.

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