Sean Harwood in court for stealing

A Bundaberg man’s desperate criminal act was part of an unravelling of his life that included losing his partner, his job and a place to live.

A long time chef and former armed security guard turned to theft after a restraining order resulted in him losing his weapons licence and his job.

Sean Harwood pleaded guilty to theft when he faced Bundaberg Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Marwood denied legal advice on the matter and pleaded for leniency from acting magistrate Peter Cooke.

Police prosecutor Andrew Powis told the court Harwood entered a Bundaberg Aldi store at 3:10pm on June 11, 2022 pushing a shopping trolley, before placing two TVs to the value of $1000 in his trolley.

The court heard Harwood then made his way to the front of the store, and waited until someone came through the entry doors before pushing the trolley out of the shop, making no attempt to pay.

Senior Constable Powis told the court that a suspicious staff member followed Harwood outside and into the car park where they confronted Harwood.

The court heard that the staff member was able to recover the TVs before Harwood left the car park.

Snr Const Powis said when police spoke to Harwood following the theft, he told them he was homeless and struggling.

“When spoken to, Harwood stated that he was desperate and needed money and that he was later going to sell the TVs,” Snr Const Powis said.

“It was planned, it was calculated, and it targeted high value items,” he said.

Harwood told the court that this desperation arose from a recent separation from his Western Australian based ex-partner and the loss of his weapons licence.

“It was so out of character. I was definitely desperate,” he said.

The loss of his weapons licence resulted in the loss of employment as second-in-charge at Total Control Security.

The court heard Harwood’s situation further deteriorated and he had been homeless for six weeks.

He was fined $800 referred to SPER and no conviction was recorded.