Two young Launceston men have pleaded guilty to several charges after stealing $130,000 from their mate’s grandma to buy a four wheel drive.
The duo, who can’t be named – as one was under 18, have been charged with two counts of burglary after stealing multiple envelopes of cash from the woman’s property in Carrick.
As originally reported by The Examiner, one of the accused was close friends with the woman’s grandson and had spent a significant amount of time at her home in his childhood.
The court heard that the two men joked about stealing the money to buy a $5000 ute, but later decided to go through with the plan after one of them claimed to know where the cash was kept.
The grandmother encountered the men in her home twice, and on both occasions, one of the accused claimed to be looking for her grandson or his jumper.
The prosecution alleges that the men stole around $130,000 from the Carrick woman and deposited the stolen cash in small increments into each of their bank accounts.
While $94,000 of the stolen money has been recovered by police, Crown Prosecutor Peter Sherrif claimed that the remainder was used on a gambling holiday in Queensland.
One of the accused had written a remorseful letter to the complainant but has yet to send it on the advice of his lawyer, the court heard.
Sentencing has been adjourned, with Justice Gregory Geason bailing the men to reappear later this year.