Gareth Radel accused of stealing $70,000 in copper wire and leaving $200,000 damage bill

The 33-year-old man is accused of breaking into businesses in the Toowoomba region and stealing copper wire. He denies the charges.

A 33-year-old man accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars worth of copper wire and causing about $200,000 damage to a telecommunications tower has been refused bail and held in custody.

Gareth Radel appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court via video link from the prison where he is being held on Thursday to apply for bail on his own behalf.

Mr Radel said he was contesting most of the charges which included entering premises and committing an indictable offence, threatening violence, two counts of entering premises and committing an indictable offence by break, possessing by night instrument of house break, possessing tainted property, wilful damage and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Police prosecutor Anita Page told the court police objected to bail.

The 33-year-old man is accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars worth of copper wire.

Magistrate Clare Kelly, reading from the written police objection to bail document, noted it was alleged Mr Radel and an accomplice had cut holes in fences to gain access to businesses including one in Cambooya from which about $70,000 worth of copper wire had been stolen.

That business was near a telecommunications tower from which wires had been severed leaving a damage bill of about $200,000, she said.

Ms Kelly noted that Mr Radel had told police he planned on relocating to New Zealand to start a new life and that his wife and child had already moved to New Zealand.

However, Mr Radel said he would remain to fight these charges and was willing to surrender his passport if granted bail, the court heard.

Mr Radel said he was an arborist by trade and had some work lined up in the Toowoomba area, Ms Kelly noted.

Ms Kelly said she found that the strength of evidence against Mr Radel was “significant” and refused bail.

Ms Kelly directed that the police prosecution ensure that the brief of evidence was sent to Mr Radel at the prison.

Mr Radel was remanded in custody to appear by video link again before the same court for mention on February 8.