A MAGISTRATE has issued an arrest warrant for a man who stole an 11-week-old American Staffordshire Terrier from a home at Cooks Hill last month.
Terry Charles Formby, 34, failed to appear in Toronto Local Court on Tuesday and was convicted in his absence of stealing a dog and possession of a stolen dog.
Magistrate Andrew Eckhold also issued an arrest warrant to bring Formby to court to be sentenced.
Police say they were called to Parry Street at Cooks Hill about 2.30pm on February 26 after Athena, an American Staffordshire Terrier puppy, was stolen from the balcony of a home. Newcastle City police launched an investigation and appealed to the community for assistance.
Acting on information from the community, officers from Lake Macquarie Police District stopped Formby with the stolen puppy on Courthouse Lane at Toronto about 11.20am on February 29.
He was arrested and taken to Toronto police station where he was charged with stealing a dog and possession of a stolen dog.
Police said at the time that Athena was taken to Belmont police station, where she was given water and playtime, before being returned to her relieved and grateful owners.
Police alleged that Formby simply saw the dog while walking past the home and decided to pick it up and take it.
He was granted conditional bail by police and was due to appear in Toronto Local Court on Tuesday, but failed to appear, was convicted in his absence and Magistrate Eckhold issued the arrest warrant.
If an accused fails to appear in court, then a magistrate can hear and determine a matter in their absence.
The offence of stealing a dog carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail or a $550 fine, while the charge of possession of a stolen dog carries a $550 fine.
