Taylor James Crane sentenced in Rockhampton Magistrates Court for stealing
A man was confronted by a member of the public after placing an item down his pants and attempting to flee a Rockhampton service station he had already stolen goods from earlier that night. Here’s what happened to him in court.
Police & Courts
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A man with an eight-page criminal record was confronted by a member of the public after placing a chocolate bar down his pants and attempting to flee a Rockhampton service station he had already stolen goods from earlier that night.
Taylor James Crane, 30, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on July 11 to three counts of stealing.
Police prosecutor Brandy Butler said Crane attended Ampol Foodary South Rockhampton on William Street on June 11 at 2.45pm and placed two V energy drinks and a 1.25L bottle of Ice Break down his trousers.
Crane took a second bottle of Ice Break to the counter where he was told his card had declined and replied not to worry about it and left the store without attempting to pay for the items down his trousers.
Ms Butler said the cost of the stolen items was $17.30.
Police saw Crane walking out of the service station.
Ampol staff told police Crane did not purchase anything from the store, however, when police spoke to Crane he stated he had paid for the items with his card but did not have a receipt and continued to insist he paid for the items.
Ms Butler said Crane attended the same service station on William Street on July 6 at 9.05pm and placed two Dare Iced Coffees and a packet of Doritos down his pants and left the store without attempting to pay for the items.
She said the cost of the stolen items was $18.50.
She said Crane returned to the same business at 10.30pm and placed a $3 block of Cadbury chocolate down his pants, which was seen by a witness who confronted him and asked him to put the chocolate back.
Crane refused and tried to leave the store, however, the witness placed a hand on his chest and blocked the exit and asked him again to place the chocolate back but he continued to push past the witness and leave the store without attempting to pay for that item.
Ms Butler said police spoke to Crane on July 8, who stated he did not recall attending the business that night and denied stealing any items.
Crane was arrested and taken to the Rockhampton Watchhouse.
Ms Butler said Crane was most recently before Rockhampton Magistrates Court on June 6 where he was ordered to eight months’ probation after pleading guilty to 22 offences, including nine counts of stealing and one count of enter premises and commit indictable offence.
She said he was also ordered to six months’ probation in Rockhampton District Court on May 27 after pleading guilty to supplying a dangerous drug within a correctional facility.
Defence lawyer Lauren Townsend said her client, who had mental health challenges, was on medication that made him crave sugar and energy because the medication made him extremely lethargic.
“He has slept in the watchhouse for the past weekend,” Ms Townsend said.
She said her client was just recently placed on that probation order and argued that it perhaps hadn’t had time to have a rehabilitative effect.
She said her client’s offending was “quite low level”, involving small consumable items, and that one of the occasions was undetected by staff.
“He has become so known to police that they saw him walking out and immediately decided to investigate if he had paid for the property or not,” she said.
Magistrate Jason Schubert said he had told Crane before that he did not get to take the property of other people.
“You don’t get to steal,” Mr Schubert said.
“The punishment today is you spent the weekend in detention.
“You will get further imprisonment if you are going to keep stealing goods from people.
“Keep your hands to yourself.”
Mr Schubert said, in circumstances where Crane spent four days in custody, he was satisfied that was a sufficient penalty.
Crane was convicted and not further punished with criminal convictions recorded.
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