- A man, 30, paid a thief $200 to rob his home while he holidayed with girlfriend
- He specifically asked the thief take her belongings so he could dump her
- The father-of-two had hoped to return to a house emptied of her things
- Do you know more? Contact hannah.moore@mailonline.com
A father-of-two paid a man $200 to rob his house while he holidayed with his girlfriend, so he could dump her and not return to a home full of her belongings.
Michael Boulton, 30, admitted to hiring an unknown man to break in to his home and take all of her belongings, and pleaded guilty to one count of stealing when he fronted Gladstone Magistrate’s Court.
The woman’s clothes, laptop, charger and jewellery were stolen, as well as her identification documents – a passport and certificate of citizenship, The Gladstone Observer reported.
A Queensland man hired a thief to break into his home and steal his girlfriend’s belongings while they were away on holiday (stock image)
Michael Boulton paid the man $200 for his work, but admitted his part in the crime as soon as police arrived (stock image)
Boulton told police of his involvement as soon as they arrived at the home to investigate the theft, and said he had just wanted the woman: ‘out of his life’.
He and his girlfriend had gone to see family from August 26 to September 6, and the 30-year-old had intended to break up with her while they were away.
Ideally, he had hoped to return to a home free of any reminder of the woman, making the breakup easier to deal with.
His lawyer, Rio Ramos, told the court Boulton was regretful of his choice.
‘He realises now that he should have handled the break-up better,’ she said
Magistrate Melanie Ho labelled his actions as ‘disturbing’, especially considering the man had chosen to front up $200 for the theft despite the fact he was unemployed.
She sentenced him to a 12-month good behaviour bond and ordered he pay $866 to the woman as compensation for her belongings.
Boulton had intended to dump his girlfriend on the trip and wanted to return to his home without reminders of her (stock image)