Timothy Edwards: Queanbeyan man breaks bail, uses stolen credit card

A man accused of storing stolen watches and possessing prohibited weapons, including a zombie knife, has been placed in custody, breaking his bail by using a stolen credit card and threatening a former partner.

Timothy Edwards previously leaving Batemans Bay Local Court. Picture: Tom McGann.

A south coast man accused of possessing stolen watches and various knives in public has broken his strict bail conditions just days after they were granted, using a stolen credit card to buy cigarettes and threatening his ex-partner.

Timothy Edwards, 33, appeared in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday via audio visual link from the South Coast Correctional Centre, after being placed into custody on May 26.

Edwards originally faced the same court on May 20, pleading not guilty to two counts of having custody of a knife in a public place and counts of possessing unlawfully obtained goods and possessing prohibited weapon.

However, Edwards pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing ammunition without holding a licence, one count of acquiring firearm parts without licence or permit and one count of possessing unlawfully obtained goods during the same appearance.

The Queanbeyan man returned to Batemans Bay Local Court from custody on Monday, after breaching the bail orders imposed during his May 20 court appearance, and pleading guilty to nine counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by means of deception, one count of stalk/intimidate to intend fear and one count of destroy or damage property.

Timothy Edwards was sentenced in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday. Picture: Nathan Schmidt.

The court heard how, just days after being granted bail, Edwards used a stolen credit card at a number of petrol stations along the south coast, purchasing fuel and cigarettes.

The 33-year-old man’s lawyer, Wayne Boom, said each purchase ranged from $40 to $76.

Timothy Edwards will return to Batemans Bay Local Court in October for his hearing. Picture: Tom McGann.

Edwards wasn’t caught with the stolen card until the evening of May 26, when he visited his ex-partner’s home despite having AVO orders against him.

The court heard Edwards banged on the front door of her home, yelling and trying to get in.

Mr Boom said Edwards “just wanted to talk”.

However, the court heard a glass table was smashed outside during the banging.

Police were called to the scene by the former partner.

Edwards was found to have the stolen credit card and the AVO orders, before he was arrested and placed into custody for breaching his bail conditions.

In court on Monday, Mr Boom conceded the new matters were serious, given they occurred while his client was awaiting a hearing for his previous charges.

Mr Boom explained on Monday why Edwards pleaded not guilty to some of the original charges, saying he was “homeless” and had nowhere to store his knives and watches, which Edwards denied were stolen.

Magistrate Doug Dick said he was disappointed to hear how quickly the bail conditions were broken.

“You were given a second chance and you abused it,” he said.

“These people were inside the house and they would have been terrified by what you were doing.”

However, Mr Dick said he would consider the sentencing assessment report, which detailed Edwards’ various mental health issues.

Edwards was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month intensive corrections order for the stalk and intimidate and destroy property offences, with conditions he continue mental health support.

Magistrate Doug Dick then fined Edwards a total of $7200 for the nine dishonestly obtain charges.

Edwards will return to the Batemans Bay Local Court on October 24 for sentencing on his original guilty pleas and a hearing on his original not guilty pleas.

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