William Donald Cawood sentenced on cattle theft charges, admits he stole cattle

A Queensland grazier who rounded up a few extra cattle that weren’t his before going to the abattoir has learnt his fate in court.

William Donald Cawood was charged with stealing a cattle, suspicion of stealing stock and branding stock with a mark not registered to his name. Photo: Fergus Gregg

A newbie grazier made wild excuses in magistrates court after he pleaded guilty to the theft of another property’s cattle.

Septimus farmer William Donald Cawood, 49, was in Mackay magistrates court for sentencing on charges of cattle theft, suspicion of theft and branding cattle with an unregistered mark.

The court heard Cawood, a mining industry diesel fitter, bought a cane farm adjoining the Mia Mia State Forest at Septimus roughly three years ago and began converting it into a cattle block.

On April 18, Cawood took sixteen cattle to the Sarina saleyard and signed a National Vendor Declaration stating he was the owner of these cattle.

The next day, four were purchased by a buyer from Thomas, Borthwick and Sons, a Bakers Creek abattoir.

The buyer identified someas not belonging to Cawood, but to another grazier identified in court as Dale William Odger, also based near Septimus.

Mr Odger attended the abattoir three days later and identified one of the beasts as his before making a complaint to the police who inspected, documented and photographed the cattle.

The court heard three of the cattle have since been returned.

Cawood’s property adjoins the Mia Mia State Forest and he said sometime cattle came down from the hills and to his property.

Police were directed to Cawood by a brand registered to his property on one of the animals.

Cawood told police cattle sometimes came to his property from the hills and entered by jumping the fence, or he lets them in via a gate.

The court heard Cawood then captured the cattle, brands them with his brand, castrates them and applies tags to them prior to sale.

During his interview Cawood told police “I thought I could take the cleanskin cattle”.

He said he made no attempt to locate the owner of those cattle.

Prosecutor Leonie Taufa’ao said Cawood’s participation in the interview and frankness were to his credit and police charged him with theft of one stock animal, suspicion of theft for three more and using a brand or mark on stock of a kind not registered.

Cawood pleaded guilty to these charges on October 14.

William Donald Cawood (centre) was charged with stealing a cattle, suspicion of stealing stock and branding stock with a mark not registered to his name. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Defence solicitor Andrew Busch was asked by his client to request convictions not be recorded in this matter.

“Mr Cawood, given his background, had a complete lack of knowledge of the grazing industry,” Mr Busch said.

Mr Busch said Cawood was concerned convictions might impact his employment as a diesel fitter.

Acting Magistrate Nigel Reese said he took into account Cawood’s participation and frankness when speaking with police and his early plea of guilt, however added Cawood breached the trust the cattle industry operated on.

“You also thought you could take clearskin cattle,” Mr Reese said.

“That is not the case.

“This will be a very expensive learning curve for you.”

Mr Cawood was ordered to pay a fine of $1613 for the theft of one stock animal, $2400 for suspicion of stealing stock and $1000 for using brand or mark on stock of a kind not registered, as well as $800 in restitution to the victim.

“It’s making clear that the community denounces the sort of conduct you have involved yourself in … not just the wider community but the narrow community of the cattle industry,” Mr Reese said.

“The cattle community relies on trust with one another. You completely breached that.”

Cawood was given 30 days to pay the fine and no convictions were recorded.

Originally published as William Donald Cawood sentenced on cattle theft charges, admits he stole cattle