A man who 'hog-tied' and stole eight goats only to have them thrown out of his ute during a police chase will be released from jail.
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Kyle Jonathon Shaw, 27, was on parole on July 29 last year when he broke into the Nyngan abattoir.
About 10pm Shaw, disguising his face with an article of clothing, entered the stockyard containing 295 goats, which were expected to be processed the following day.
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One-by-one Shaw caught nine goats and used grey duct tape to 'hog-tie' them, binding their front and rear legs together, disabling them so they could not walk or escape.
Leaving the goats where he caught them, he went on to siphon about 40 litres of duel from a tractor into two jerry-cans, before, one-by-one and sometimes two at a time, carrying the disabled goats into the back of his white Mitsubishi Triton ute.
Court documents revealed Shaw left one goat behind, before fleeing with eight goats from the stockyard.
The next morning Shaw travelled to Narromine where police spotted him driving the ute bearing false cardboard number plates, and noticed seven goats tied up with grey duct tape unsecured in the tray of the ute.
Police indicated for Shaw to pull over, however he took off turning onto Sixth Avenue and began driving recklessly "deliberately swerving from left to right" at a speed of 70km/h in a signposted 50km/h zone.
The swerving caused one of the live goats, with its feet still bound, to be ejected from the tray "landing heavily on the road".
Shaw continued to flee from police, driving through a number of streets in Narromine travelling at speeds of up to 80km/h.
As he turned onto Culling Street off the Mitchell Highway, due to the speed he was travelling, the Mitsubishi ute lost traction with the road and slid, causing two more live goats to be ejected from the rear of the vehicle.
The force of the collision resulted in one of the goats suffering fatal injuries.
At one point during the pursuit, Shaw made a right-hand turn into an unsealed lane causing another live goat to be thrown from the rear of the ute.
Police momentarily lost sight of Shaw before once again locating him driving on the wrong side of the road along Culling Street toward the Soul Food cafe.
The pursuit was terminated by police due to the presence of several pedestrians and Shaw's reckless and dangerous driving manner.
Council rangers attended to assist police to collect the goats thrown from the ute during the pursuit. Inspections of the goats revealed ear-tags identifying them stolen from the Nyngan abattoir the previous night.
Shaw was located in Nyngan on August 2 when he was arrested and taken into custody.
Supported by his mother and grandfather in court, Shaw pleaded guilty to a string of charges at Nyngan Local Court.
Charges included stealing the animals, two counts of drive while disqualified, using a vehicle displaying misleading number plates, enter enclosed agricultural land and commit an offence, police pursuit driving dangerously, unjustifiably inflicting pain on an animal, committing an act of aggravated cruelty on an animal, and damaging property.
Shaw's defence lawyer told the court he was "very regretful" for his actions and had stolen the goats to help pay for his drug habit.
"He's struggled with substance abuse since the age of 16," the court heard.
"He's been in custody for six months, and has been clean for that entire period. He tells me it's the longest he hasn't been using drugs."
Shaw's lawyer said while his record didn't assist him and he was on parole at the time, the incident had been "a turning point in his life".
Magistrate Malcolm MacPherson said while the police pursuit and animal cruelty were serious, he gave Shaw the chance to rehabilitate.
"I'll give Mr Shaw an opportunity to get back in the community," he said.
"This is basically his last chance."
Shaw was convicted and sentenced to an aggregate indicative term of imprisonment for 12 months with a non-parole period of six months, backdated to August 2. He will be eligible for release on February 1.
For stealing the goats Shaw was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order and ordered to abstain from drugs.
Shaw was also convicted for two counts of driving whilst disqualified and sentenced to two conditional release order for 12-months, and disqualified from driving for six months.
For displaying misleading number plates, and stealing the fuel Shaw was convicted, and ordered to pay the owner of the abattoir $50, no other penalty was imposed under section 10A.