A FALLING out over a few hundred dollars of unpaid work ended with a Wodonga man taking matters into his own hands.
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Wayne Anthony McLean, 48, had worked for the owner of Leather and Thread on and off for six years, undertaking construction work.
The Wodonga Magistrates Court heard McLean had had a falling out with the owner over $800, and set about getting back his cash.
The father of four drove his partner’s white Ford utility around to the Romet Road business about 10.35pm on May 2.
He looked for a way inside and used a plank of wood to hold up a roller door, propping it up to allow himself to slide in.
McLean was in no rush when he was inside the building, spending about 50 minutes wandering around looking at items.
He knew the owner paid about $300 for his leather recliners from China, so he took two of them.
Figuring a homemade trailer was probably worth about $200, he loaded up the chocolate recliners, reversed the vehicle, hooked up the trailer and drove away from the scene.
The footage showed McLean walking up to the business wearing track pants and a hoodie.
Police searched his Ballard Street home on May 8.
They found the recliners inside the house but McLean initially denied taking the trailer, before admitting he had dropped it around at a friend’s house.
“I just wanted my money,” he told police.
“I wasn’t going to get it.”
Police managed to recover all of the items for the business owner.
The court heard the property had a retail value of $3000.
McLean told the Wodonga Magistrates Court on Tuesday he was guilty and did not need any further adjournments to the matter
He remained calm during proceedings, having previously had outbursts during other hearings.
He offered an explanation for the charges, which included trespass with intent to steal and stealing the recliners and unregistered trailer.
“I had no chance of getting the money he owed me,” McLean told magistrate John Murphy.
While the 48-year-old has a criminal history, the court heard he did not have priors for burglary.
Mr Murphy recorded a conviction and ordered McLean be of good behaviour for six months.