A MAN found in possession of copper wiring and car batteries at Lucknow on May 25 was fined $400 in Orange Local Court on Monday.
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Kevin Anderson pleaded guilty to possessing suspected stolen items including copper wiring, seven car batteries and a rug.
The 33-year-old Prince Street resident was represented in court by legal aid solicitor Gerry Stapleton who said the last time his client appeared before the court was four and a half years ago.
“He’s making a strong effort to address what is a history of drug addiction,” Mr Stapleton said.
“He’s going to enter a treatment plan once the matters are finalised at court.”
Mr Stapleton said his client is also undertaking training at Tafe for a certificate IV in community health and welfare and hopes to get work in drug and alcohol rehabilitation care.
According to a police statement Anderson was arrested at 3.30pm on May 25 following reports made soon after midnight.
The statement said that at 12.15am an unknown man was detected at a William Street scrap metal yard and removed a coil of copper wiring by dragging it under the fence.
About 2.10pm the owner of the yard noticed a white Holden Commodore parked in Dalton Street .
According to the police statement, the owner watched and phoned police as three men brought copper wire up from the creek and loaded it into the car.
Police then patrolled the area in search of the vehicle.
At 3.10pm Canobolas Highway Patrol stopped a silver Toyota Carolla for a random breath test.
Although the driver returned a negative result the police noticed copper wiring and orange insulation in the back of the car.
There were also three men in the car with Anderson in the front passenger seat and another man in the back.
Due to suspicions from the earlier report, the officers then searched the car for stolen property.
According to the police statement they found more copper wiring and insulation in the boot along with seven used motor vehicle batteries and a new rug wrapped in plastic.
It stated that Anderson claimed he owned the batteries and the other items and was taking them to Bathurst to sell.
However, police seized the items and arrested Anderson at the scene. Police also spoke with another business owner who said several used batteries had been stolen from him on May 21 or 22.
