Dongara brothers plead guilty to stealing more than $7000 worth of items from hotel under renovation

Two brothers who stole more than $7000 worth of items from a Port Denison hotel under renovation, over two burglaries, have admitted to the crimes and been handed community-based orders. Andrew Kellan Strange, 20, and Thomas Charles Strange, 18, appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court, both charged with two counts of aggravated burglary and two counts of stealing, to which they pleaded guilty. On February 19, the two broke into the The Priory Hotel, which was under renovation, by smashing a window. The two broke into multiple rooms and stole items including a washing machine, clothes dryer and sound system worth $6000. On March 5, the two broke into the same location, where they stole CCTV footage, a glass washing machine and two televisions, worth $1000. Andrew Strange’s lawyer, Sabrina Maines, said her client acknowledged he made stupid decisions, which came about while drinking with friends. Thomas Strange’s lawyer said he thought the items were going to be thrown away. The court was told the two were financial providers for their family after their mother died and their lawyers asked Magistrate Angus Hockton to consider punishing them with fines. “This is a young man who has done something very stupid but has a lot of pressure on him,” Ms Maines said. Mr Hockton said the offences were too serious for fines but acknowledged both were remorseful, had clean records and had pleaded guilty at an early stage. Both were given community-based orders, nine months for Andrew Strange and seven for Thomas Strange. Both brothers were also given spent convictions in order to not harm their future employment prospects.