Senator avoids conviction over key theft

West Australian senator Rod Culleton has avoided a conviction being recorded against him after pleading guilty in a NSW court to stealing a tow truck's key in April 2014.

The One Nation senator, who appeared in Armidale Local Court on Tuesday, was ordered to pay costs of $322.85 to the owner of the tow truck.

Magistrate Michael Holmes said Senator Culleton's actions on the day were foolish, but he declined to record a conviction.

Senator Culleton withdrew an application to have a jury hear his case.

The court heard he took a $7.50 key from a tow truck driver who was trying to repossess a lease car in Guyra in April 2014.

The case attracted national attention as the Australian Constitution bans people from being federal parliamentarians if they are awaiting or serving sentences for crimes that carry sentences of a year in jail or more.