A Tasmanian man who helped steal seven firearms from a Launceston home has been sentenced to home detention, almost nine years after vanishing and living rough in the bush.
Shayne Paul Arnol, 60, was last week handed 18 months’ home detention for his role in a May 2016 break-in that netted firearms worth $17,350 from a West Launceston property.
The Supreme Court heard Arnol initially acted as the getaway driver when mates Shane Smith and Robert Williams broke into the home and stole a gun safe.
His role escalated later that day when Williams asked him to return to the home to grab a forgotten pinch bar.
At first, Arnol agreed to act as lookout but ended up going inside with Williams and helping steal three more firearms, along with $5 in coins.
“All of this offending was recorded on high quality CCTV footage from inside the complainant’s address. You were clearly identifiable from this footage,” Justice Kate Cuthbertson said.
Smith and Williams were quickly arrested and jailed in 2016, but Arnol skipped a court date in March 2017 and spent almost eight years on the run.
The court heard he never left Tasmania, instead camping in coastal bushland and living off supplies from George Town.
He eventually handed himself in when arthritis made bush living too painful.
The court heard all seven stolen firearms were eventually recovered, though not right away.
Justice Cuthbertson said the risk of stolen guns being used in other crimes made deterrence essential.
While Arnol has a criminal record stretching back to 1982, the judge accepted he was “not the mastermind” and had stayed out of trouble since 2016.
His home detention order includes electronic monitoring, drug and alcohol restrictions and mandatory counselling.
