A Bellambi man charged with possessing stolen goods after he was found with more than a dozen iPad Minis belonging to a northern Illawarra school has had his charged upgraded by police.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Investigating officers originally charged Stewart James Condran-Shields with possessing stolen goods after police found 13 iPad Minis in the boot of his vehicle during a search at Bellambi in the early hours of Thursday morning. The devices were allegedly stolen from St Columbkille’s Catholic Primary School at Corrimal around 12.30am.
Condran-Shields was released on police bail later that morning, however officers rearrested him on Thursday afternoon and laid an additional charge of break, enter and steal.
They will allege Condran-Shields was responsible for breaking into the school and stealing the devices too.
Police documents tendered to Wollongong Local Court during Condran-Shields’ bail application on Friday said most of the iPads still had stickers attached to them reading “property of St Columbkilles Catholic Primary”.
Most of the iPads still had stickers attached to them reading “property of St Columbkilles Catholic Primary”
- Police documents tendered in court
It is alleged each device had been wiped clean of the school data when police examined them.
Condran-Shields allegedly admitted he knew the iPads were stolen, saying he had planned to sell them. When asked where he’d gotten the devices from, he replied “a mate”.
Prosecutors did not oppose Condran-Shields’ release on bail, noting he had no criminal record, worked full time and would be unlikely to face a full time prison sentence if convicted.
Condran-Shields’ lawyer said is client would agree to live at an address in Bellambi and abide by a nighttime curfew if released.
Magistrate Michael Stoddart granted the application and adjourned the case to January 31.
