A Hobart man who stole nearly $173,000 worth of equipment from city businesses claimed he believed people linked to human trafficking were operating from the premises, a court has heard.
George William Cornelius, 31, faced the Supreme Court this week after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including burglary, stealing and motor vehicle theft.
The court heard that in October 2023, Cornelius broke into offices on Macquarie Street wearing a wide-brimmed hat and face mask while carrying a hammer.
He stole laptops, tablets, surveying equipment and office supplies valued at approximately $173,000.
Cornelius also stole a Volkswagen ute worth $42,900, which he used to transport the stolen goods to his parents’ property in Kingston over multiple trips.
In a police interview, he admitted he planned to sell the stolen items to buy drugs.
Officers later recovered almost everything taken, with just $623 worth of cables still missing.
The court heard there was “a very clear nexus” between Cornelius’s offending and his substance abuse issues, with records indicating he had struggled with methamphetamine, cannabis and alcohol dependencies since age 17.
Justice Stephen Estcourt sentenced him to two years in jail, backdated to 22 January 2025, with the rest of the sentence suspended.
The judge ordered Cornelius to pay compensation of $165,888.80 to an insurance company and $623 to one of the affected businesses.
Cornelius will also be subject to a 12-month community correction order, requiring him to undergo assessment and treatment for drug and alcohol dependency.
His counsellor reported that while in custody, Cornelius had “engaged well, was willing to accept new strategies, displayed insight and motivation for change”.
