Douglas Coll Gallagher in court for stealing
A man has faced Hervey Bay court after hiding an $80 bottle of gin in his shorts and leaving a popular bottle shop.
Police & Courts
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A Hervey Bay man has been busted stealing an $80 bottle of gin, hiding it in his shorts, and leaving the store.
Douglas Coll Gallagher, 35, pleaded guilty in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Thursday, November 3, to stealing after his crime was caught on CCTV.
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Police prosecutor Kim Harwood said at 9.42pm on Friday, June 24, Gallagher went to the Torquay Hotel bottle shop on the Esplanade, proceeded to the spirits section of the store and selected a 700ml bottle of gin valued at $80.
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Gallagher then hid the bottle of gin in his shorts while covering it with his jumper, and left the store “without making any attempt to pay”, Sergeant Harwood said.
A staff member tried to retrieve the bottle, but Gallagher refused to give it back, the court heard.
CCTV footage captured Gallagher stealing the bottle.
Sgt Harwood said when police found Gallagher, he admitted to stealing the gin as he was “mentally in a bad place”.
Duty lawyer Kade Eames told the court his client had since gone back to the Torquay Hotel bottle shop and paid for the gin.
Mr Eames said Gallagher was receiving a disability pension following a car accident he had years ago.
The court heard Gallagher had previously worked as a painter.
Magistrate Michael Holohan highlighted that Gallagher walked into the bottle shop and helped himself to the bottle of gin without paying.
Magistrate Holohan noted that Gallagher had since paid for the bottle.
Gallagher was fined $350 and a conviction was recorded.
No restitution was sought for the bottle.
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