Jarrah Colley sentenced for stealing pensioner’s wallet

After a Central Queensland pensioner’s wallet fell out of his pocket, a dishonest man capitalised - but security cameras were watching.

Jarrah David Colley.

A Central Queensland court has heard how an opportunistic wallet thief was brought to justice thanks to CCTV footage.

Jarrah David Colley, 35, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court to stealing.

Police prosecutor Claudia Neill-Ballantine said on June 4, the male victim was laying down on a grassed area outside of his unit at the Community Care Centre in Rockhampton.

“The victim’s wallet had fallen out of his pocket onto the grass... the victim has stood up and left the area unknowingly without his wallet,” Ms Neill-Ballantine said.

The victim subsequently reported to the Community Care Centre that his wallet had been lost.

Jarrah David Colley.

Ms Neill-Ballantine said staff reviewed CCTV footage which showed Colley pick up the wallet and the incident was reported to police.

The prosecutor said Colley put the wallet in his shorts pocket.

“The wallet contained the victim’s bank card, pension card and $225 cash,” Ms Neill-Ballantine said.

The court heard the wallet was subsequently returned to the victim but the $225 cash was missing.

The prosecution sought that amount in restitution.

The court heard Colley had a one-page criminal history with no prior offending of this sort.

Solicitor Oscar Millroy said Colley had suffered from mental health illnesses.

“He does know it’s wrong (stealing the wallet),” Mr Millroy said.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale fined Colley $300 and ordered he pay $225 restitution.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Jarrah Colley sentenced for stealing pensioner’s wallet