A FALMOUTH man who stole garden equipment and fraudulently hired a power tool has been sentenced by magistrates in Cornwall.

Anthony Nathan Bruce Gilbert, 33, of Langton Road, Falmouth appeared at Truro Magistrates' Court on Tuesday May 3 on one count of fraud by false representation, one count of theft and two counts of burglary.

The offences took place last year when, on Saturday, January 22, 2021 stole roofing materials to the value of £340 belonging to SIG Roofing.

Then, on Saturday, February 5 2021, having entered part of the Polmargh building in Padstow as a trespasser, stole a ladder of an value unknown.

Following on from this, between March 18, 2021 and April 28, 2021, Gilbert committed fraud by dishonestly making a false representation by hiring a power tool using a company name that he no longer worked for.

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The court noted how Gilbert had done this with the intention of making a gain, namely the use of the power tool without paying for the item, for himself.

Later that year, on Thursday, May 27, Gilbert entered a shed at Rowe's Pet Hotel in St Dennis and stole a leaf blower to the value of £280.

Gilbert pleaded guilty to all of the offences.

At his sentencing, Gilbert was made the subject of a community order in which he must undertake mental health treatment for 12 months as well as take part in 20 days of rehabilitation activities.

He must also carry out 100 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months.

Alongside the community order, Gilbert was made to pay compensation of £620.

The court explained how the custody threshold had been passed given nature of offences and Gilbert's record. Custody was not, however, inevitable and so a community order imposed.

It also noted how Gilbert's guilty plea was taken into account when imposing the sentence.