A Bomaderry man who stole a Noah’s Ark charity tin in a “stupid brain snap” has appeared in court.
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Craig Douglas Kelly, 44, has pleaded guilty to a charge of larceny and destroying property in Nowra Local Court.
Court papers said between 9.40am and 9.50am on August 24, Kelly grabbed the charity tin off the front counter of the Priceline Pharmacy in Junction Street, Nowra.
The tin was used to collect public donations for the Noah’s Inclusion Services, a local organisation which has been operating since 1977, offering services to children and young people with special needs and caring support to their families.
CCTV footage showed Kelly taking the tin and placing it in his backpack before walking away.
Kelly phoned police the next day, telling officers he had stolen the charity tin and wanted to return it.
Police attended his Bomaderry home where he admitted to taking the tin and had opened it with a hammer and a pair of pliers.
Kelly allegedly told police he had been “really struggling financially” and “had had a stupid brain snap of old behaviour”.
He told police he had not spent any of the money and handed over an amount to coins to officers in a Tupperware container.
He will reappear in court on November 20.