Damon Christian Richardson: Man busted with thousands of dollars’ in stolen smokes

A man with a history of drug offending was busted with thousands of dollars worth of cigarettes at a Dalby caravan park and has fronted court. See what he had to say:

A man who has been before the Dalby court before on drug-related charges was caught with about 100 packets of stolen cigarettes.

Damon Christian Richardson was staying at a caravan park on Black St when police were notified about $2500 worth of smokes were stolen from a Dalby business.

Police prosecutor Derek Brady said police located 84 packets of cigarettes in the 23-year-old’s home on June 3.

Officers also located a toolbox with Dalby State High stickers on it.

Defence lawyer Michael McElhinney said his client was homeless at the time and staying with cousins, and claimed he wasn’t involved in the stealing the items. but should have known it was suspicious.

Magistrate Kerrie O’Callaghan noted the Dalby man had no history of similar offending.

“Your history as far as I can see is exclusively drugs-related, you haven’t had any of this nature prior to what I can see,” she said.

Richardson pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of property suspected of being stolen.

He was fined $500.

Originally published as Damon Christian Richardson: Man busted with thousands of dollars’ in stolen smokes