Suspended Sentence For 60 Yr Old Liquor Thief

Appearing in Magistrates Court today [Dec 12], a 60 year old man  pleaded guilty to stealing a litre of Dewars whisky, valued at $33.85, from Miles Market in June 2013.

Gary Dillas was given a three month prison sentence, but the sentence was suspended for twelve months; and he was ordered to pay $33.85 to Miles Market today.

Crown Prosecutor Maria Sofianos told Senior Magistrate Archie Warner that shop staff had seen Dillas enter the supermarket and then leave shortly after with something apparently concealed under his jacket.

CCTV footage confirmed that Dillas had entered the store, picked up a bottle of Dewars whisky, put it under his jacket, and then exited the store. Dillas was arrested by Police on 30th October 2013.

In Court this morning, speaking in his defence, Dillas told the Senior Magistrate, “I had no job then. I’ve just got a job. Can I repay the value?”

Asked what he intended to do with the stolen liquor, Dillas denied that he had a drinking problem and told the Magistrate that he intended to sell the liquor and figured he could get $15-$16 for it; and that he intended to then use the money to help take care of his son.

Dillas told the Magistrate that, “I’ve been working as a painter.” Asked how much money he had on him right now, Dillas told the Magistrate, “I have $150.”

After reviewing Dillas’s extensive criminal record, and describing him as an “equal opportunity liquor thief”, the Magistrate handed down the suspended sentence order and made the restitution order.

#LiquorAndCocktails #MagistratesAndSupremeCourt

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