Man convicted for bizarre possession of stolen gates in Alice Springs

AN Alice Springs man who bizarrely came into possession of two stolen gates has fronted the Local Court and pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing property

Palmer pleaded guilty in the Alice Springs Local Court

AN Alice Springs man who bizarrely came into possession of two stolen gates has fronted the Local Court and pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing property.

Trent Nathan Palmer pleaded guilty to the offence in the Alice Springs Local Court on Thursday and he was not found guilty of stealing the gates.

The two large chain mesh link gates, which were located at the rear of the south Stuart Highway property, had been unhinged and stolen according to police.

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Police prosecutor Leah Tonkins said the gates were stolen sometime between Sunday February 9 and Saturday February 15.

“On Saturday the 18 of April 2020 police received information that the stolen gates had been altered and were in the rear of a property on Ross highway,” she said.

“When [police] asked when and where he purchased the gates from, he stated he had brought them about a year ago off a Facebook page. The defendant changed his version of events.”

Palmer represented himself in court and said he would pay full restitution to the victim.

“I’ve been in quite a bit of trouble in the past. I’ve tried to do the right thing for quite a few years now,” he said.

Judge Elisabeth Armitage convicted Palmer and ordered him to pay restitution of $3432 as well as completing a 12 month good behaviour order.

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Around the time of the offence, Superintendent James O’Brien said the theft of the gates was highly unusual and disappointing.

“This is one of those strange instances where you just shake your head and ask why,” he said.