A West Coast man who stole goldmining equipment from a remote creek bed gave himself away by later trying to sell the gear back to its owner.
Graham Alexander Gibson, 56, of the Arahura Valley, vacated a not guilty plea in Greymouth District Court to charges of stealing a pump and hoses valued at $1820 from Kapitea Creek in November or December last year.
He was sentenced to 180 hours' community work and ordered to pay $1500 to compensate his victim for earnings lost while he was unable to dredge for gold without the pump.
The court was told Gibson and another man had been fossicking for gold when they came across the victim's claim. Gibson decided to steal the pump and hoses, and persuaded his friend to help him carry it back to their vehicle.
After a month or so he started asking around to see if he could find a buyer for the pump and was eventually introduced to a man in need of one - the rightful owner - who recognised his equipment and told police.
