Nathan Finlay: Mildura Cash Converters attempted robbery of backpack

A crook’s brazen cash grab attempt at Mildura Cash Converters ended badly and did not pay off for the former mine supervisor.

The Cash Converters store on Mildura's Lime Ave. Picture: Google Maps

A man’s brazen attempt to steal a backpack after noticing cash in an envelope has landed him behind bars.

Mildura man Nathan Christopher Finlay, 33, appeared at Mildura Magistrates’ Court from custody last week, where he pleaded guilty to attempted robbery.

A police prosecutor told the court on March 9, Finlay visited Cash Converters at Mildura’s Lime Ave, when he noticed the victim next to him at the checkout handling a white envelope containing cash.

The envelope was placed back into the victim’s backpack.

The court heard outside the shop, the victim was in the process of taking his backpack off and putting it in his car when Finlay approached and tried — but failed — to steal the bag.

Finlay then rode away on a bicycle and the incident was caught on CCTV.

In a police interview, Finlay said he approached the victim over derogatory remarks he claimed were said about his partner.

But police said Finley failed to explain why footage hadn’t been captured of him having a conversation with the victim.

Finlay’s lawyer said his client had previously worked supervising 55 people in the mines but fell into drug use, saying he’d had a “significant fall from grace”.

The lawyer said Finlay was now drug free and wanted to get his life back on track.

Magistrate Rodney Higgins indicated Finlay would be sentenced to time served and a community corrections order.

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