Serial Woolworths thief Matt Moon sentenced at Gladstone

A ban from every Woolworths store in a Central Queensland town didn’t stop a serial thief flogging stuff from its supermarkets and adding to an already shocking rap sheet.

Matt Owen James Moon, 34, was sentenced in Gladstone Magistrates Court for charges including multiple counts of stealing. Generic image.

A man banned from every Woolworths store in a Central Queensland town kept flogging stuff from its supermarkets in defiance of his bail, a court has heard.

Matt Owen James Moon, 34, appeared in custody in Gladstone Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to charges including four counts of stealing, trespass, breaching bail, and possessing dangerous drugs.

The court heard that Moon, with an eight-page criminal record “littered with” stealing offences, was banned from every Woolworths store in Gladstone.

In relation to some of his latest stealing offences, police prosecutor Senior Constable Pedau Grabbe said on December 12 last year, Moon stole numerous meat items from Woolworths Supermarket, Kin Kora.

Snr Const Grabbe said Woolworths issued Moon with a banning notice and on January 13, he entered one of its stores at Gladstone - the trespass offence.

On January 15, Moon signed a bail undertaking which stated he must not go to Woolworths stores in Gladstone.

Gladstone Courthouse.

Just three days later, on January 18, he breached that by going into one of its stores.

Not only did Moon enter the store, but he also stole an electrical item from it.

Then on January 22, police caught Moon with .053g of methamphetamine and a needle.

Snr Const Grabbe said when Moon committed these latest offences, he was on probation as well as parole.

“(He) has an eight-page (criminal) history which is littered with stealing offences,” she said.

Solicitor Jun Pepito said Moon had struggled with drug use and during his time in custody, he had enrolled in courses including one in retail.

During sentencing, Magistrate Mary Buchanan noted that since November 8 last year, Moon had been convicted of 19 stealing offences, as well as other dishonesty offences and drug offences.

She sentenced Moon to eight months’ jail, declared 56 days’ pre-sentence custody as time already served, and fixed immediate parole.

Moon was also fined $300 and convictions were recorded.