Gambler steals school's computers

©istockphoto/DNY59

A GOLD COAST man with a severe gambling problem travelled to Hervey Bay to steal computers from a school, a court was told.

Ryan Frank Geaghan, 19, and a friend broke into Yarrilee State School in August, where they stole five iMac computers, the Hervey Bay Magistrates Court heard.

Defence solicitor John Milburn said Geaghan was trying to feed a serious gambling addiction.

“When he works everything he earns is gambled away,” Mr Milburn said.

“He stole in order to feed that gambling habit.”

The court heard that Geaghan lived at home with his mother without paying board and was therefore able to spend all his money on the addiction.

He was seeing a counsellor for his gambling problem.

Mr Milburn said Geaghan’s co-accused had “begged him” to come up to the Bay to steal and even organised a lift for him.

Geaghan, who was on probation for a similar offence in May, was given a stern warning by Magistrate Graeme Tatnell about his gambling habit.

“You’ve got to get rid of it very quickly or it’s going to destroy your life,” he told the teenager.

Geaghan was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay $461 restitution to the school.