'Parcel thieves' face court over alleged theft of packages worth tens of thousands of dollars

2 years ago 716

A former banking manager accused of stealing neighbours' packages from the entrance of an apartment complex in Sydney's CBD has been granted bail. 

Sascha Pearsall, 37, and his girlfriend Nikita Bastion, 36, were arrested on Tuesday after police allegedly found bikes, ammunition, food, clothing, prescription drugs, and collectibles belonging to other residents at the units in Saunders St, Pyrmont. 

The couple - who live in adjoining apartment buildings and had only recently started dating - allegedly went on a stealing spree between 10.30pm on December 23 and the early hours of Christmas Eve.

They are accused of plucking parcels addressed to other residents from the foyer of the units - including more than $20,000 worth of Star Wars memorabilia and pre-cooked fitness meals valued at $167.13 - before stashing them in one of their units. 

Police investigating the disappearance of two bikes which were reported missing from the unit complex carpark allegedly uncovered the haul. 

The pair were slapped with a string of charges including stealing, drug supply, and unlawful possession and were remanded in custody overnight to face separate hearings at Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday.

Sascha Pearsall, 37, and Nikita Bastion, 36, (pictured) have been charged after allegedly stealing packages left for neighbours in the entrance of a Sydney apartment complex

Appearing via videolink, Pearsall, in a black t-shirt and shorts, sat quietly in the dock as his lawyer told Magistrate Paul Lyon he intended to plead not guilty to eight of the nine charges against him - the single guilty plea being a count of stealing food worth less than $2000.  

His lawyer made an application for bail arguing his client was willing to report to police, live with his mother, and abide by a curfew. 

'His mother has lived at that housing commission for 25 years and he has lived there on and off over that time,' Pearsall's lawyer said. 

'You honour, there are drug and alcohol charges listed, but my client says that he does not have a drinking problem.

'He can put down a 24-hour curfew as he is unemployed at the moment.'

The prosecutor opposed bail, telling the court the matter had been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the defendant could face a maximum of 15 years in jail if found guilty of drug supply. 

Pictured: Packages allegedly found in the possession of Pearsall and Bastion at a Pyrmont apartment complex

Police will allege the pair were stealing packages and parcels intended for other residents from the complex's entrance

While magistrate Lyon agreed the charges were serious, he noted the DDP case would likely take months to compile and granted Pearsall bail. 

Under the bail conditions, Pearsall must stay at his mother's home and not leave between 8pm and 8am unless if he is in her company, and must report to Newtown Police Station station three times a week. 

He cannot take alcohol or drugs, must present to police frequently for sobriety checks, cannot go within a kilometre of Pyrmont, and cannot leave Australia. 

Meanwhile, in an adjacent courtroom, Bastion pleaded guilty to supplying a  prohibited drug, but not guilty to seven other offences.

She applied for bail, which was formally refused. She will remain in custody to appear at Downing Centre Local Court later this month. 

Police launched an investigation after two electric bikes were allegedly stolen from the unit complex carpark on Christmas Eve. 

A search warrant was executed on Tuesday. 

Among the other items allegedly found were prescription medication, credit cards, toy collectibles, action figures, shoes, and replica firearms.

Pearsall's LinkedIn bio says he has been taking a 'well deserved career break' after spending more than 11 years in various roles at Commonwealth Bank and a brief stint at Cash Rewards

Bastion and Pearsall announced their new relationship on Facebook just three months ago 

According to court documents, police will allege the pair went on a nighttime rampage, stealing bikes, a birth certificate, and another man's bank card. 

Pearsall also allegedly picked up a box containing My Muscle Chef food and $23,000 worth of Star Wars memorabilia. 

During the same period, the couple also allegedly supplied 350ml of Butanediol, - a common 'date rape' drug also known as GHB. 

When police searched the home on Tuesday, the pair were also allegedly found with a third man's IDs and Prochlorperazine Maleate - a prescription nausea drug. 

The items were seized to undergo forensic examination. 

Court documents show the couple, who announced their relationship on Facebook in late October, live in neighbouring apartment towers within the same building complex as the alleged thefts in Pyrmont. 

Photos posted online the night before they were arrested showing them eating dinner at a Chinese restaurant in Haymarket. 

According to his LinkedIn profile, Pearsall worked at the Commonwealth Bank for 11 years in a variety of roles, including holding the position of Operations Integrity Manager from May 2018 to March 2022.

Police executed a search warrant at the Saunders Street (pictured) unit on Tuesday while investigating the alleged Christmas Eve theft of bikes from the complex's carpark

He left the banking giant in June last year to become the head of platform engineering and operations integrity at Cash Rewards.

His stint at the reward program company lasted just four months, with the former IT boss's current LinkedIn profile saying: 'Taking a well deserved career break!' 

Pearsall has pleaded not guilty to supplying a prohibited drug, possessing ammunition without holding a licence, theft of property worth less than $15,000, three counts of possessing suspected stolen goods, theft of property worth between $2,000 and $5,000 and possession of unlawfully obtained prescription medication. 

Bastion will fight charges of theft of property worth between $2,000 and $5,000, possessing ammunition without holding a licence, supplying a prohibited drug, theft of property worth greater than $15,000, possession of unlawfully obtained prescription medication, and two counts of possessing suspected stolen goods. 

Bastion is due to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on January 10, while Pearsall's case will next be heard in the same court on March 2.

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Read Entire Article Source

To remove this article - Removal Request