Sheep rustler Kevin Bloom pleads guilty to stealing and trying to auction neighbour’s livestock

A Bendigo sheep rustler has been busted fleecing livestock from his neighbour’s farm, “caught in the act” by police trying to auction them at the Bendigo Livestock Exchange.

Kevin Bloom pleaded guilty to stealing sheep from his neighbour's farm near Bendigo. Picture: Gianni Francis.

A Mt Camel father has been exposed as a sheep rustler after stealing livestock from a neighbour’s farm and trying to sell them at auction.

Kevin Bloom, 34, pleaded guilty in Bendigo Magistrates’ Court to charges relating to the theft of 11 sheep from his neighbour’s land in December 2023.

The court heard he fleeced the neighbour while working on his parent’s farm near Elmore.

Bloom was caught on camera by the neighbour as he “herded a mob of sheep” towards the property boundary and loading the livestock onto a truck.

Bloom then tried to sell the sheep at the Bendigo Livestock Exchange, claiming he had bred them himself.

Kevin Bloom sheepishly leaves court after pleading guilty to stealing sheep from his neighbour's farm near Bendigo. Picture: Gianni Francis.

Police managed to stop the sale and Bloom was “caught in the act” as he tried to auction off the stolen sheep in early January 2024.

The court heard seven sheep from the herd escaped due to Bloom cutting the victim’s fence, sheep which were never recovered.

Magistrate Jarrod Williams said there was a “long tradition” of farmers helping and trusting each other, which Bloom breached at a time when the community was still reeling from severe flooding in the area.

“Farmers for a long time throughout Australia’s history have worked together, particularly at times when things are tough,” he said.

“This is a serious breach of trust.”

Saleyards at Bendigo Livestock Exchange.

Mr Williams said Bloom’s “financially driven offending” had demonstrated a degree of premeditation in planning the heist.

“Theft is an inherently serious offence, it has a 10 year maximum,” he said.

Defence lawyer Luke Docherty argued for leniency, telling the court Bloom had behaved himself since Shanghaiing his neighbour’s sheep.

The prosecution told the court Bloom had a criminal history of dishonesty, that included shoplifting a fish tank, never paying back a mate who loaned him $1000 to get his former partner dental care, and also not paying for a dinner at a pub.

Mr Williams convicted and fined Bloom $2000.