Darling Downs lovers guilty of stealing, neglecting puppy on Christmas Eve: Jackson Sharpe, Trixie Ann McMahon

When police raided the home of a Darling Downs couple on Christmas morning in search of a stolen puppy, they found an eight-week-old pug in a potentially ‘dire’ situation.

Toowoomba couple Jackson Sharpe and Trixie Ann McMahon pleaded guilty to stealing a puppy on Christmas Eve and failing to provide it with food and water.

When Darling Downs police raided a Toowoomba home on Christmas morning in search of a stolen puppy, a court was told the eight-week-old pug was left in a dire situation.

The dog nappers, Toowoomba couple Jackson Sharpe, 22, and Trixie Ann Karoline McMahon, 21, both pleaded guilty to stealing the pug and breaching their duty of care to the puppy by not providing it with food or water.

Police found the puppy, Rusty, under the pair’s mattress trapped in a confined space with no food or water, about 16 hours after he was stolen from a Glenvale home on December 24, 2023.

Toowoomba couple Jackson Sharpe and Trixie Ann McMahon pleaded guilty to stealing a puppy and failing to provide it with food and water.

When Sharpe was fined $750 for the crime before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday, August 7, police prosecutor Rohan Brewster-Webb said the puppy was at risk of dire consequences.

Mr Brewster-Webb said despite the property being searched, initially police could not find Rusty and the arrested pair were ready to leave with officers and leave the puppy in the precarious situation.

“It was in a confined space with nowhere to get out,” he said.

“Not being at the address, the puppy would have had no ability to get food or water.”

Stolen 8-week-old merle pug Rusty, after police recovered him from a Toowoomba home on Christmas morning 2023. Picture: Queensland Police Service

Brazen dognapping

Following the raid, a Queensland Police spokeswoman said it was “a Christmas miracle,” Rusty was found safe and well at the thieves’ South Toowoomba home.

On Wednesday, August 7, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told a third person was allegedly involved in the theft however Mr Brewster-Webb said his matter had not been finalised.

The court was told the owner of the puppy, Ms McCoy, listed the puppy for sale on Gumtree along with three others for $2500 each, and organised a viewing of Rusty after exchanging messages with a “Lucy”.

Stolen 8-week-old merle pug Rusty, after police recovered him from a Toowoomba home on Christmas morning 2023. Picture: Queensland Police Service

Mr Brewster-Webb said at Ms McCoy’s front door about 8pm, she handed Rusty over to a man who allegedly fled to a black BMW getaway car.

“The car started moving, (the man) … jumped through the rear driver’s side window and the (black BMW) has driven away,” he said.

“The victim them (put) a stolen dog post on Facebook.”

Deemed not suitable for community-based orders

Mr Brewster-Webb said an anonymous informant identified the car, the couple, and the Hume St address where they were living.

Sharpe’s duty lawyer said he did not steal the puppy, but he may have encouraged the third co-accused to allegedly steal the dog, and may have been in the getaway car at the time.

The court was told the former concreter and landscape tradesman had been on JobSeeker since he was injured in a motorcycle crash about four months ago and was on medical cannabis.

Although Sharpe’s criminal history didn’t include like offending, the court was told he was on a probation order for drug offending.

The court heard Sharpe, 22, had a history of drug offending.

When magistrate Mark Howden noted the probation office intended to breach Sharpe because he was not engaging with his order, he became agitated.

“Nah,” he began to yell before being asked to be quiet.

Magistrate Mark Howden told Sharpe it was a matter for him to sort out what was happening with his probation order before fining him $750.

“This is your last chance – no conviction recorded,” he warned Sharpe.

Trixie Ann McMahon pleaded guilty in April, however the mother’s sentence was adjourned so she could find out whether or not she was eligible to transfer the charges to Murri Court.