Former Australian Age of Dinosaurs employee Troy Allan Campbell pleads guilty to stealing cash, car

A grandfather with a “bee in his bonnet” found himself in hospital for 18 days after a poorly executed heist at a popular Queensland tourist attraction. Read how it unfolded.

A former North Queensland dinosaur museum employee with a “bee in his bonnet” about unpaid entitlements has faced court for stealing more than $17,000 from his former workplace while under the influence of methylamphetamine.

Troy Allan Campbell, 49, used his inside knowledge as the former operations manager at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum at Winton to access an office after hours on July 5, remove a safe containing $17,300 cash, and then flee the scene using a vehicle kept on site for employee use.

Proserpine Magistrates Court heard police found the stolen car and the open, empty, stolen safe about 70km out of Charters Towers after Campbell presented himself to Charters Towers hospital in the early hours of the morning with injuries from a traffic crash.

Campbell pleaded guilty to enter premises and commit indictable offence, and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Former Townsville prison officer Troy Allan Campbell pleaded guilty to enter premises and commit indictable offence and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. Picture: Facebook

Defence lawyer Peta Vernon told the court her client had recently resigned from his position at the museum to take up work in Airlie Beach and was to complete his last shift on July 6.

Ms Vernon said Campbell teamed up with a male co-offender he met for the first time in Townsville the day before the offence to execute the “really poorly thought-out” plan, and that the alleged co-offender took off with all the cash.

She said her client had been using methamphetamine in the lead up to the incident and did not remember the traffic crash despite significant damage to the stolen car and injuries bad enough to keep him in hospital for 18 days.

“He provided notice but that notice period was cut short and they of course didn’t pay him out for his holidays, so he had a bit of a bee in his bonnet about that, coupled with drug use – he was under the influence of methylamphetamine when this was planned out and upon the execution as well,” Ms Vernon said.

She said he had a very good work history, with previous roles in resort management in the Northern Territory, hospitality in Airlie Beach, as a chef in the air force, and as a prison officer in Townsville for eight years.

The court heard Campbell stole cash from the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum the night before he was to complete his last shift as operations manager.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Emma Myors said text messages between Campbell and the alleged co-offender showed the two had planned the heist together and intended to split the takings.

Magistrate James Morton said it was very serious offending and a “breach of trust” that warranted a sentence of deterrent.

He sentenced Campbell to 12 months’ jail, to serve two months, and with an operational period of 18 months.

He also ordered Campbell pay the museum $8650 restitution.

“This is what drugs do to you – make you go stupid,” Mr Morton said.

The court heard Campbell’s alleged co-offender would be expected to pay back the other half of the stolen cash but was contesting his charges, and was scheduled to face court in January 2022.

Originally published as Former Australian Age of Dinosaurs employee Troy Allan Campbell pleads guilty to stealing cash, car