Josiah Baira sentenced for Keppel Bay Sailing Club theft

A 20-year-old man who had just completed a suspended jail sentence stole an 82-year-old woman’s wallet in a Central Queensland club’s pokies room - and that was just the start of what he did with it.

Josiah Stanley Baira, 20, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court to stealing a woman’s wallet at Keppel Bay Sailing Club, Yeppoon. Generic image.

A young Central Queensland man has faced court after he brazenly stole an 82-year-old woman’s wallet in a pokies room.

Josiah Stanley Baira, 20, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court to stealing.

The court heard that on February 16, Baira and a friend walked into a gaming room at Keppel Bay Sailing Club.

Police prosecutor Claudia Neill-Ballantine said Baira sat at a poker machine and picked up a wallet belonging to an 82-year-old woman, “stashing it” under his shirt.

Ms Neill-Ballantine said Baira walked off with the wallet and he and his friend tried to use the woman’s card at the bar, but the card was declined.

The court heard the elderly woman had cancelled her card as soon as she lost her wallet.

Yeppoon Courthouse.

It was told days later, the woman found her wallet at Yeppoon’s Ross Creek - her cards were inside but $300 cash was missing.

Ms Neill-Ballantine said police identified Baira after viewing CCTV footage.

The prosecution sought $300 restitution.

Baira had a four-page criminal history which included previous stealing offending and when he committed this offence, he had just completed a suspended sentence imposed for an enter premises offence.

A solicitor said Baira was currently unemployed and receiving Jobseeker Allowance.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale sentenced Baira to two months’ jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of 12 months.

She also ordered he pay $300 restitution and a conviction was recorded.