Mackay’s Darren Reginald Parkins faces court for theft

A thief stole meat, tools and other items from Coles and Bunnings in a ‘very unsophisticated’ series of opportunistic crimes. We reveal where he secreted the items.

Darren Reginald Parkins faced Mackay Magistrate Court for a range of criminal charges including theft, going armed in public, and wilful damage. Photo: Zoe Devenport

A man who was stashing goods in his mobility scooter was warned his behaviour was always going to catch up with him.

Darren Reginald Parkins stole from “all over Mackay” including a premium steak from Coles Parkside, tools from Bunnings, and a variety of items from stores in the Northern Beaches, Andergrove and Paget.

Parkins, 46, attended Mackay Magistrates Court on Thursday where he faced the fresh theft charges and unauthorised dealing with shop goods.

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan warned him if his behaviour continued he would go to jail.

“You are someone who would find prison difficult, but there comes a time when it just has to happen,” Ms Hartigan said.

“You’re always going to get caught because you … just grab something and put it in your mobile trolley (scooter) and are caught on CCTV.

“It is very, very unsophisticated.

“Your criminal history looks like you’ve got many, many stealings (and) it’s getting very serious for you, this kind of offending.”

Police prosecutor Leonie Taufa’ao said Parkins’ offences were “very protracted”,taking place over several months.

“There’s not really an area that’s specific to him, it’s all over Mackay,” Ms Taufa’ao said.

The court heard Parkins was also charged with possessing a knife and wilful damage from an incident on September 26 last year, with the latter arising from him “trying to escape”.

Parkins has a history of carrying knives in public to threaten.

For example, in 2021, he threatened a stranger following a family dispute about his mother’s estate.

Darren Reginald Parkins faced Mackay Magistrate Court for a range of criminal charges including theft, going armed in public, and wilful damage. Photo: Zoe Devenport

Defence lawyer Aaron Sellentin said his client had lost his leg in an e-scooter accident on January 14, 2022, which had triggered a relapse into drug use and crime.

The court heard Parkins had used drugs since he was 12.

Mr Sellentin said Parkins had spent “at least 70 per cent” of the inheritance from his deceased parents on methylamphetamines.

He said Parkins was on an NDIS pension and was waiting on a grant of more than $40,000 to fund his prosthetic leg.

Parkins pleaded guilty to a range of charges including stealing after previous conviction, unauthorised dealing with shop goods, possessing a knife, going armed so as to cause fear, wilful damage, breaching probation and driving without a license.

Ms Hartigan sentenced him to six months jail, suspended for 12 months, and ordered a six-month parole period.

“If you steal again (on parole), assume you’re going to jail,” she told him

Parkins was also fined $500 for breaching his probation.

Convictions were recorded.