Jamie Alan Neilson: Plasterer plans to return to Victoria after stealing $10k worth of items on the Gold Coast
The lawyer for a Victorian plasterer charged with stealing $10k worth of items from a Broadbeach apartment has said his time in jail has been a “wake up call”.
The lawyer for a Victorian plasterer who moved to the Gold Coast for a lifestyle change, has told the court her client’s six month stint in jail has been a “wake up call” after stealing $10,000 worth of items from a Broadbeach apartment.
Jamie Alan Neilson, 28, pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday to one count each of enter dwelling and commit, breach of bail condition, contravene direction of police officer, possess dangerous drugs, driving without a licence while suspended.
The court heard Neilson, who had originally been granted consent to be at an apartment at Star Casino’s The Darling hotel, stole $10,000 worth of items from the apartment between January 1-10.
The items were later recovered after being found at a location where Neilson was loosely residing.
Prosecutor Erin Garland said Neilson had told the victim that he could help recover the property if she didn’t tell police.
Some two weeks after the theft, Neilson drove while unlicensed at Robina and was found to be in possession of methamphetamine on January 24.
Neilson’s lawyer Demi Quadrio from Gatenby Criminal Law, told the court her client had moved from Victoria to the Gold Coast for a lifestyle change in 2023 but started engaging in negative social circles after he struggled with his plastering business in the Sunshine State.
She said the offending happened in circumstances where Neilson was not working, was reliant on associates to provide him with accommodation and was in the grips of a drug addiction.
The court heard Neilson has spent 182 days in custody before being granted bail earlier this year.
Ms Quadrio said the time in custody was a “significant wake-up call” for Neilson who has since undertaken rehabilitation including spending time at a live-in rehabilitation centre and engaging a psychologist.
The court heard Neilson’s mother, who had upended her life to come assist her son in Queensland while he was on bail, had plans to return to Victoria, with Neilson also hoping to go back to his home state to be with his family.
Ms Quadrio said it was in Neilson’s and the community’s best interest that her client to be in Victoria with his family support networks.
Magistrate Gary Finger took into account Neilson’s guilty plea, the circumstances of the offences and his time in custody.
“I take into account that refreshingly you have undertaken a period of rehabilitation which is not all that common in this court I can tell you,” he said.
He said he thought it was a good thing that Neilson was returning back to Victoria to be with his family and said he was lucky to have their support.
Neilson was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended after serving 182 days.
Mr Finger counted Neilson’s time in custody as time served.
Neilson was also disqualified from holding a driver’s licence for one month.
