Son stole Japanese maple from TRC garden for his mum’s birthday

The plant thief later told police he had taken the Japanese maple to give to his mother for her birthday.

The man told police he took the Japanese maple from a TRC garden to give to his mother for her birthday.

GIVING mum flowers for her birthday is a commendable and loving act but maybe not when the plants are taken from a Toowoomba Regional Council garden bed.

Council CCTV cameras in Little St in Toowoomba’s CBD had recorded Paul James Anthony Nicholls pulling up in his car near the council buildings and getting out of the vehicle on October 17.

He was then seen to rip a Japanese maple valued at about $280 from the garden bed, put it in his car and drive away, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

Police tracked the 50-year-old to his home where he had admitted taking the plant to give to his mother for her birthday, the court heard.

Police seized the plant and returned it to council.

Nicholls, a green keeper by trade, pleaded guilty to one count of stealing.

Magistrate Kay Ryan noted the plant had been returned and fined Nicholls $300 but ordered the conviction not be recorded.