Man tried to pawn hot laptop

A South Bunbury man tried to pawn a laptop which was stolen from St John of God Murdoch Hospital, a court has been told.

Jason Wayne Walker, 45, appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Thursday where he admitted trying to sell the laptop for $800 to Advanced Cash and Gold in Bunbury in October last year.

The laptop was reported stolen from the hospital between September 25 and 29.

Staff at the pawn store refused to buy the laptop after turning it on and seeing a St John of God logo on the screen.

Staff then reported the incident to police who identified Walker through closed-circuit TV footage from the store.

Walker pleaded guilty to one count each of attempting to gain benefit by fraud and possessing stolen or unlawfully obtained property.

In court, Walker’s lawyer questioned the police prosecutor’s request for compensation to be paid to the hospital saying the valuation of the laptop was too high.

Prosecutor Karl Repp asked for $1500 in compensation, but defence lawyer John Mazza said because the laptop was secondhand $900 was a more appropriate figure.

Sgt Repp responded saying there was no corroborating evidence to support claims the laptop was valued at $900 and it would cost the hospital more to replace the stolen device.

Mr Mazza also told the court Walker had overcome a drug addiction in recent years and was doing volunteer work and attending church regularly.

Magistrate Dianne Scaddan told Walker he ought to have known the laptop was stolen and what he did was inappropriate.

She also said it was her responsibility to make an assessment relating to compensation.

Magistrate Scaddan fined Walker $1500 plus costs of $169.10 and ordered him to pay $1200 to the hospital.