Troy Hearfield pleads guilty to break and enter, dispose of stolen property at Coffs Harbour court
The unfortunate downfall of a former A-League star who lit up soccer pitches in Australia and New Zealand hit a new low when he appeared in a Coffs Coast court this week.
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The sad downfall of a one-time A-League football star who lit up soccer pitches in Australia and New Zealand hit a new low when he pleaded guilty to breaking into an up-market Coffs Harbour home.
Troy Hearfield, 35, was self-represented and urged to get a lawyer by magistrate Theresa Hamilton when he faced Coffs Harbour Local Court on Monday.
The former Under-23 Australian representative told the court he had been working full-time, and did not have the opportunity to see Legal Aid.
Hearfield pleaded guilty to breaking into a home on Pinnacle Way in the Summit estate on February 25 last year.
The ex-Central Coast Mariners, Newcastle Jets and Wellington Phoenix representative took a large quantity of jewellery – valued at up to $40,000 – from the home.
He was nearly caught red-handed during the brazen daylight raid.
Police facts state the resident returned home to discover her main bedroom ransacked.
“Upon the victim calling out to her husband, the downstairs rear side door was heard to slam shut,” court documents state.
Police say two neighbours saw a man – now known to be Hearfield – flee the property, jump a back fence and slide down a retaining wall before hopping in a car.
Meanwhile, the victim discovered a walk-in robe had also been plundered.
Police seized two bandaids found at the scene for forensic examinations.
Taken in the snatch was a large quantity of jewellery, including a shark tooth and moonstone necklaces and two pricey Michael Kors handbags.
Police facts state Hearfield sold some jewellery to Coffs Harbour Pawnbrokers in March last year, and another lot the month after.
On July 7, officers stopped Hearfield as he was driving on Linden Ave, Boambee East, where he was arrested and told his home would be searched.
He told police they might find a small quantity of meth next to his bed.
They did, and they also found a large quantity of jewellery which they identified as being stolen.
Officers also seized three small bags of meth, which weighed a total of 0.36 grams.
Hearfield, who was briefly appointed to coach Coffs Harbour Coastal Premier League side Boambee in 2021, has entered guilty pleas to breaking and entering into a home and stealing less than $60,000 and two counts of disposing of stolen property.
The fallen star has also pleaded guilty to one charge of possess prohibited drug.
Hearfield was released by the Central Coast Mariners in 2013 after failing a drug test.
The case has been adjourned to July 5 and Magistrate Hamilton has ordered a sentence assessment report be made.
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Originally published as Troy Hearfield pleads guilty to break and enter, dispose of stolen property at Coffs Harbour court
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