David Wille Baker pleads guilty to three charges after he stole from an IGA and assaulted two staff

A methed-up rapper who had not slept for four days shoplifted a can of oysters from a Cairns IGA and when confronted, punched two staff members in the head, a court heard.

A man on methamphetamine who had not slept for four days shoplifted a can of oysters from a Cairns IGA and when confronted, punched two staff members in the head, a court heard.

David Wille Baker pleaded guilty in Cairns District Court to stealing, common assault and assault occasioning bodily harm. He appeared in court via CCTV from Lotus Glen Correctional Facility.

The court was told Baker was “burdened” by a nine-page criminal history, which included at least 10 violence offences.

Crown Prosecutor Seamus McManus told the court the stealing was insignificant, but the gravity of his offending was in the assault occasioning bodily harm.

The theft of the oysters was insignificant in comparison to the assaults that followed, the court was told. Picture: File

He told the court that on November 17, 2021, Baker entered the Woree Everyday IGA.

Two shop attendants confronted Baker after he had taken the oysters, and Baker then punched the man in the head and punched the woman in the face, causing bruising and swelling to her chin and her lip to bleed.

Baker was already on a suspended sentence for assault, he said, which was an aggravating issue of the offending.

“He has continued to offend in a violent manner, and given his history general deterrence is paramount,” he said.

The shop manager’s victim impact statement was presented to the court, and although it was not read out Mr McManus said she should not have to be exposed to such violence in her day-to-day activities.

Defence counsel Rachel Logan told the court Baker was a Torres Strait man who had started using methamphetamine at around the age of 17 and had been in and out of custody since then.

He started his own music production company in 2022.

“His passion lies in music but he understands he needs to be released and get healthy,” Ms Logan said.

Judge Brad Farr noted Baker’s numerous entries for offences of violence, and that he had been sentenced to imprisonment in the past.

“So far none of that has had any deterrent effect on you or any rehabilitative impact,” he said.

“You came from a good family, completed year 12 and as a young man had some promise, but you engaged with methamphetamine.”

Judge Farr imprisoned Baker for 18 months and set his parole release date after he had served one third of that.

He had already spent 127 days in custody and will be eligible for parole on April 26.

Originally published as David Wille Baker pleads guilty to three charges after he stole from an IGA and assaulted two staff