James Gray sentenced for stealing $9000 in gardening equipment and electronics from Mildura Church of Christ

A Mildura dad undertook a “calculated” and “serious” heist of a church when he stole mowers, a leafblower and multiple electronic gaming devices.

James Gray has been sentenced for stealing $9000 in gardening equipment and electronics from the Mildura Church of Christ

A Mildura dad who undertook a “calculated” and “serious” heist of a church where more than $9000 in goods were stolen has faced court.

James Gray pleaded guilty to burglary in the Mildura Magistrates’ Court after he took part in a shocking robbery of the Mildura Church of Christ in August last year.

The 36-year-old drove his truck to the church late at night, forcing entry to the back shed and loading it up with a ride-on mower, a leaf blower, a second mower, a Nintendo Wii console, a Nintendo Switch, and an Xbox 360.

Later that night, Gray was spotted trying to cover up the mowers and was charged.

Magistrate Patrick Southey said despite the pub worker having multiple prior convictions, he was making some progress in building a better life for himself and his four children.

However, he said, it didn’t take him long to find himself in trouble again.

“The evidence is that he has made some progress since August,” Mr Southey said.

“(However) you moved up here and fell in with the wrong crowd very quickly.”

Defence lawyer Hugh Middleton said most of Gray’s prior convictions were due to a break up with his ex-wife and the subsequent collapse of their business.

“He had a very viable business in Melbourne and due to separation that had to close,” he said.

Since moving down to Mildura, Gray has split his time between working at Club Merbein and caring for his children, aged 2, 7, 13 and 15, with what Mr Middleton called a “military-like” schedule.

However, Mr Southey said a prison term was the “only appropriate sentence”.

Gray was sentenced to two months in jail and fined $500.