Arborist’s defeat after bizarre raincoat heist at Darling Point building site

A Sydney arborist held a $700 raincoat for ransom to inspire prompt payment from a Darling Point developer, in a move described by a magistrate as a ‘strange adult tantrum’.

A BEWILDERED arborist has been given a conviction in a bizarre case involving a pricey raincoat and a building site blow-up on millionaire’s row in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

For 30 years, George Palmer has been the go-to arborist for property owners in the city’s high end suburbs hoping to better their view of Sydney Harbour.

But, last year, Mr Palmer found himself front and centre of a farcical dispute after chopping down a huge Port Jackson fig at a multimillion-dollar development at Darling Point.

The frustrated father-of-three was charged late last year with larceny and trespass after he took a rain jacket from the building site to “inspire” the payment of his invoices.

Arborist George Palmer (right) leaves the Downing Centre with friend Richard Buttrose. Pic: John Grainger

The 49-year-old asked the Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday to allow his friend Richard Buttrose, a former inmate turned law student, to represent him following Buttrose’s win for another pal in the Land and Environment Court.

But the court ruled Mr Palmer would have to fight the minor charges himself. So he ended up at the bar table after a brief lesson in Local Court procedure from the patient magistrate.

The court heard the dispute began after Mr Palmer claimed he was contracted by Komplete Construction to cut down a towering 80-year-old fig at the $11.5 million harbourside property of Danielle Elkorr on Sutherland Cres.

It was no small feat and involved a crane and several subcontractors.

On March 25 last year, Mr Palmer said he asked Komplete Construction foreman Anthony Balletta about payment of his invoice.

Constable Liberty Blair led the investigation into the stolen raincoat. Pic: John Grainger

“He replied: ‘With your attitude, I’m not sure you’ll be paid at all’,” he said.

“At which point I took the jacket and said: ‘I’ll give this back to you once invoices get paid’.”

Mr Palmer billed about $16,000 for the tree removal and at the time, nothing had been paid and an invoice was outstanding.

With the $700 red Musto sailing jacket, Mr Palmer ran out the door and Mr Balletta, carrying a steel bar, gave chase.

Two tradesmen stepped in and stopped Mr Balletta while Mr Palmer drove off with the prized raincoat.

In a heated cross-examination between Mr Palmer and Mr Balletta in court, the fate of the raincoat was disputed.

Anthony Balletta was working as a foreman at the Darling Point building site. Pic: John Grainger

“Did you ever feel as if you would be permanently deprived of your raincoat?” Mr Palmer asked.

Mr Balletta replied: “Yes I did”.

The day after the heist, Mr Palmer sent Mr Balletta a text: “Let’s get the bills paid and your jacket back soon” with a smiley face emoji.

According to Mr Palmer, he planned to return it once he got paid.

“I work hard for my money and take my job seriously and I hope my clients do too,” he said.

When one of Mr Palmer’s invoices was paid, he sent a follow up text: “Got paid half. Do you want half the jacket back or should we wait till the full outstanding gets paid?”

Days later, Constable Liberty Blair knocked on the arborist’s front door inquiring about the rain jacket.

Mr Palmer handed it over without issue but the saga didn’t end there.

The building site at 9 Sutherland Crescent in Darling Point. Pic: Sam Ruttyn

Rather than handing the jacket back to Mr Balletta, it went into evidence and, after a protracted investigation, Mr Palmer was charged.

In addition to larceny, he was also charged with entering enclosed lands for leaving several “one tonne” logs on the building site driveway last May.

Mr Palmer, who had $700 docked off his invoice for the jacket, claimed Mr Balletta, a woodworking enthusiast, had asked for logs.

The magistrate found Mr Palmer at the time of pinching the coat had intended to keep it and was guilty but found him not guilty of trespass.

She referred to his behaviour as a “strange adult tantrum” and fined Mr Palmer $550.

As for the raincoat, Mr Balletta confirmed the police had returned it.

Outside court Mr Palmer said he was reviewing his options for an appeal.

“I don’t want to have a criminal conviction but do not want to give this any more oxygen than it deserves,” he said.