Gary Murphy sentenced in Rockhampton Court for break and enter

A serial thief didn’t realise he was making a big mistake when he tried to sell stolen goods to someone on social media. When they asked to meet him, they invited someone else, too.

A court has heard a Dad tried to sell a number of tools he stole from a Central Queensland business on marketplace.

A dad attempting to sell tools he stole from a Central Queensland business was almost busted when the owner came across the items listed for sale on social media, a court has heard.

Gary Robert Murphy, 32, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Monday, August 12, to two counts of break and enter, attempted fraud, two counts of possessing marijuana, possessing drug utensils and four counts of possessing schedule four medicine.

About 3.40am on April 9, Murphy went to business Dust Busterz CQ where he unlocked a padlock leading to the business storeroom.

While inside the business, he took Ryobi tools, batteries, battery charger, fan, leaf blower and a Husqvarna whipper-snipper with chainsaw attachment.

Ten days later, the owner of the items came across the items for sale on Facebook marketplace.

Police prosecutor Brendon Selic told the court the owner of the items messaged Murphy in an attempt to buy the items back and arranged to meet him the following day.

The owner of the items notified police but the meeting did not take place.

On April 20 police searched a room at the Ascot Hotel, where Murphy was understood to be staying, and found the items as well as the clothing Murphy was wearing when he stole the items, as seen on CCTV, and his ID.

Police were told Murphy had left the hotel.

Rockhampton Court House.

Just weeks earlier, on February 28, he had a run in with police patrolling the Depot Hill area, when they came across a Holden Rodeo in the carpark of the Quay St boat ramp.

Murphy walked over to the vehicle after using nearby amenities and told officers he was the driver of the car.

Murphy and the other occupants of the vehicle were detained for a search.

During the search officers found marijuana, and various prescription medications including duloxetine, naproxen and pantoprazole, none of which he had prescriptions for.

Officers also found a set of scales and a plastic water pipe.

The court heard Murphy told officers he used marijuana to calm his mental health.

A court has heard a Dad tried to sell a number of tools he stole from a Central Queensland business on marketplace.

A couple of months later and he was again stealing tools, this time about $10,000 worth.

Between 2am and 6am on July 1, Murphy forced entry into tool storage on a Isuzu ute which was parked out front of a Denison St address.

Murphy’s lawyer Samantha Legrady told the court her client was a father of two who had a Year 10 equivalent education.

Ms Legrady said he began using marijuana at the age of 12 before using meth at the age of 18.

She said Murphy had previously worked “on and off” as a landscaper and had work lined up for when he was released from custody.

Ms Legrady told the court Murphy had been assessed by the prison mental health services and, while he was yet to have his final assessment, they had indicated he had bipolar disorder.

Magistrate Cameron Press took into account Murphy’s plea of guilty when considering his sentence and declared 41 days of presentence custody as time already served.

Mr Press warned Murphy that he needed to do whatever it takes to get drugs out of his life so he could be a father to his children and turn his life around.

Murphy was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with a parole release of October 2.

Originally published as Gary Murphy sentenced in Rockhampton Court for break and enter