Guilty plea over stolen goods

By Alex Mitchell

Oct 28, 2021

In court: Craig Ramage, 49, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods. Photo by Rodney Braithewaite

A Shepparton man police found trying to sell $5000 worth of water-skiing gear at Cash Converters has faced Shepparton Magistrates’ Court.

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Craig Ramage, 49, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods, relating to items stolen from a Yarrawonga property that backs on to Lake Mulwala between March 20 and May 20, 2020.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Fiona Kennedy told the court police saw Ramage in a car driving into the car park of Cash Converters Shepparton on May 18, 2020, with a large amount of water-ski equipment in the car.

It was heard police asked him about the items, which he said were given to him by a friend in Mooroopna. Asked if the items were stolen, Ramage replied “who knows” and “they probably are” and said he did not pay for them.

Police then asked if he was taking the items to Cash Converters, to which he replied “I was going to, I probably won’t now though”.

It was heard the victim of the theft would later attend Shepparton Police Station and identify the stolen water-ski equipment as her own. The equipment was valued at $5000.

Defence counsel Luke Slater asked that Ramage be sentenced with a fine in recognition of his co-operation with police and his early guilty plea.

But Magistrate Peter Dunn was not convinced and adjourned the matter until November 1, stating “he can come and see me next Monday”.

By Alex Mitchell

Senior journalist