A man and woman who confessed to looting a bushfire-damaged electronics store in January are appealing the severity of their 18-month sentence. Leon Elton, 37, and Kylie Eva Pobjie, 32, of Central Tilba, pleaded guilty to twice entering the Batemans Bay's Betta Home Living store after it was damaged in the New Year's Eve bushfire, stealing more than $20,000 worth of stock on January 8, 2020. Elton and Pobjie, who initially surrendered herself to police, will both face Bega District Court Judge Laura Wells on Tuesday, March 3 via audio visual link. The pair were sentenced to a non-parole period of six months on February 3 by Batemans Bay Local Court magistrate Doug Dick, who said the court would not be swayed by public opinion at a time when feelings were "running high" due to the bushfire emergency. Their sentences were backdated to January 11, meaning they would be paroled on July 10 this year. Both had admitted to two counts of entering the building to commit an indictable offence, larceny, and disposing of stolen property. Additionally, Pobjie was also fined $800 for drug driving and disqualified from driving for six months, while Elton was fined $600 for possessing methylamphetamine. Read more Court and Crime here
Kylie Eve Pobjie and Leon Elton are appealing their sentences of 18 months in jail. Picture: Facebook
A man and woman who confessed to looting a bushfire-damaged electronics store in January are appealing the severity of their 18-month sentence.
Leon Elton, 37, and Kylie Eva Pobjie, 32, of Central Tilba, pleaded guilty to twice entering the Batemans Bay's Betta Home Living store after it was damaged in the New Year's Eve bushfire, stealing more than $20,000 worth of stock on January 8, 2020.
Elton and Pobjie, who initially surrendered herself to police, will both face Bega District Court Judge Laura Wells on Tuesday, March 3 via audio visual link.
The pair were sentenced to a non-parole period of six months on February 3 by Batemans Bay Local Court magistrate Doug Dick, who said the court would not be swayed by public opinion at a time when feelings were "running high" due to the bushfire emergency. Their sentences were backdated to January 11, meaning they would be paroled on July 10 this year.
Both had admitted to two counts of entering the building to commit an indictable offence, larceny, and disposing of stolen property.
Additionally, Pobjie was also fined $800 for drug driving and disqualified from driving for six months, while Elton was fined $600 for possessing methylamphetamine.
