A life-long crook with a bent for stealing tried to hide behind a tree before frightening a young mum after he walked on to her porch, a court has heard.
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It was all part of Christopher Asquith’s grog-affected attempt to evade police, who soon enough arrested the 49-year-old anyway.
His pattern of disrespect continued at the Albury police station, where he unleashed a tirade of foul language when told he was going to be photographed and fingerprinted.
This all stemmed from Asquith’s opportunistic theft of a mobile phone left behind in the Hume Bank Lavington Square branch by a customer.
Albury Local Court has been told it was about 9.10am on November 8 when the customer put his iPhone 6 on a table, leaving the device behind when he approached a teller.
Ten minutes later he noticed his phone was missing and so returned to the bank, where he spoke to an employee.
He was told the theft was captured on CCTV footage and that the person who took the phone, Asquith, was a customer. A few weeks later police were given the footage, which showed Asquith knock the phone on to the floor and then pick it up before walking outside.
The Lavington man was seen at a Union Road cafe on December 9. After seeing police he hid behind the tree, then walked down a driveway in Sutherland Street.
The resident said she saw Asquith, carrying takeaway food, walk on to her porch.
“The accused appeared to be under the influence of alcohol as he was swaying as he was standing,” police said.
It was noticed later that Asquith was also dribbling.
Asquith did not speak to the woman, who out of fear of the unemployed man ushered her three children back in to the home. Police arrived soon after and arrested Asquith, who commented: “Well, I suppose I won’t be getting f … ing bail.”
Asquith pleaded guilty to larceny and enter enclosed lands unlawfully.
Magistrate Rodney Brender put him on a two-year good behaviour bond and ordered that he pay $1000 compensation.