Jarrod Scott Heather: ‘Stupid’ tradie steals from construction site

A Lavington tradie who broke into a Thurgoona construction site has been busted with drugs and stolen soccer balls.

Jarrod Scott Heather.

A Lavington tradie who broke into a Thurgoona home under construction was later busted with drugs and stolen soccer balls from Melrose Football Club.

Jarrod Scott Heather, 28, appeared in Albury Local Court on Monday after he pleaded guilty to breaking and entering, two counts of possessing a prohibited drug, and receiving stolen property.

Court documents show Heather, who worked as a plasterer, broke into a home owned by Hotondo Homes which was under construction in Thurgoona, about 3.45am on March 18.

Heather forced entry via the internal garage door and stole two carts and an electric pump from a water tank valued about $600.

The next morning the construction site manager noticed the items missing.

Because the site manager installed a hunting trail camera at the property facing the house, Heather was caught standing at one of the windows holding a torch.

On April 3, police followed a Mitsubishi Triton driver by Heather to a home in Parkland Cres and searched the house.

Police found 0.3g of ‘ice’ and an ‘ice pipe’ in the vehicle.

Inside they noticed a soccer ball on the floor of the bedroom belonging to Heather, marked with MFC.

Police also found three more soccer balls marked with MFC and Melrose FC, as well as 14g of cannabis leaf.

They confirmed 12 soccer balls had been stolen from a shipping container at the Melrose Football Club in Lavington between March 23-25.

Heather could not be located in the house, and police believe he jumped the back fence to escape detection.

He later attended Albury police station on April 9.

Heather’s defence solicitor told the court his client had been placed on a community corrections order for 18 months for other offences in March, and was 12 weeks into the men’s behaviour change program.

“He regrets this behaviour and describes it as extremely stupid,” his solicitor said.

Heather’s solicitor said the low value of the stolen goods and his client’s young age should be taken into account.

Heather was supported in court by his father.

Magistrate Richard Funston said that sort of offending shouldn’t be taken lightly.

“I don’t describe this as stupid,” Mr Funston said.

“This is serious criminal behaviour.”

Heather was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order with supervision.