Scott Andrew Rees pleads guilty to pawning stolen batteries in Hervey Bay

A desperate freelancer’s decision to exchange stolen batteries worth hundreds at Cash Converters has cost him nearly four times their value in penalties.

Scott Andrew Rees pleaded guilty to receiving tainted property and dishonestly obtaining money from Cash Converters when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court.

In didn’t take long for a freelancer who pawned stolen batteries worth hundreds of dollars to face the long arm of the law.

Scott Andrew Rees, 49, pleaded guilty to receiving tainted property and dishonestly obtaining money from Cash Converters when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court.

The court heard that some time after midnight on June 8, 2025, a number of items were taken from an address at Dundowran.

About 9.53am that same day, Rees went in to the Cash Converters on Boat Harbour Drive in Hervey Bay and took $350 in exchange for batteries.

The batteries were later seized and a search warrant was carried out at Rees’ home, the court heard.

Rees said he had been given the item by an unknown person.

Duty lawyer Virginia Ukpabi said Rees had grown up in New South Wales and had experienced considerable trauma as a child.

He worked as a trainer and speaker for registered mental health organisations, she said.

Scott Andrew Rees pleaded guilty to receiving tainted property and dishonestly obtaining money from Cash Converters when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court.

About 18 months ago he had suffered a health issue that led to a loss of employment and a downturn in his finances.

While he had dabbled in illicit substances in the past to self-medicate for the trauma he had experienced, he had relapsed when he lost his job and had not worked for the past 14 months.

He was dependent upon his wife for financial support and was currently doing some sporadic freelance work.

Ms Ukpabi said Rees was disappointed in himself after a lengthy period of being on the right path.

His last similar conviction had been in New South Wales 20 years ago.

Magistrate Trinity McGarvie said Rees had a troubling interstate history, but it was dated.

She described his conduct as “really dishonest” and of significant cost to the business that he had fraudulently claimed to own the batteries to.

Rees was fined $900 and ordered to pay $350 in restitution to Cash Converters.

No convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Scott Andrew Rees pleads guilty to pawning stolen batteries in Hervey Bay