Daniel Charles Dowsett sentenced in Maroochydore Magistrates Court

A supermarket meat bandit who wilfully destroyed thousands of dollars worth of products at several Sunshine Coast supermarkets has returned to court on new charges.

A Kawana man who destroyed thousands of dollars worth of meat products at various supermarkets on the Sunshine Coast has returned to court on new charges.

Daniel Charles Dowsett, 30, appeared in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on November 16 via videolink, where he pleaded guilty to several charges including six counts of stealing after a previous conviction, two of wilful damage, failing to appear, enter premises by break and possessing marijuana.

Dowsett’s fresh offences breached an earlier 12-month probation order which came after he was sentenced for various charges including destroying thousands of dollars worth of meat products at several Coles and Woolworths across the Sunshine Coast.

Court documents state Dowsett had first grabbed packaged meat from a customer at Woolworths Chancellor Park on February 24 and thrown it on the ground shouting “you’re killing beef, you’re killing animals”.

He then pulled his pants down and bent over outside the store when another person tried to diffuse the situation.

The documents state Dowsett then went back inside and continued throwing meat products around, but when police arrived he said he was wiping meat fluid off the floor with paper towel.

The documents state Dowsett told police his actions were not a vegan protest, but an “expression of his objection to what was happening in the world”.

Daniel Charles Dowsett (in tie-dye shirt) was given 12 months probation after he destroyed thousands worth of meat products at various supermarkets in early 2023. Photo: Contributed

The next day, Dowsett stole $567.71 worth of meat from Coles Mooloolaba and threw it in the bin outside the store, the documents state.

He then repeatedly doused various meat and seafood products in liquids at several Coles and Woolworths stores around the Sunshine Coast on March 4 and March 5.

More than $9000 was sought in restitution, the documents state.

On Thursday, November 16, Maroochydore Magistrates Court was told Dowsett had caused $2000 worth of damage to a CCTV camera with a broom and stolen groceries from Coles and Woolworths, but this was less serious than his earlier offending.

Police prosecutor Allison Johnstone called the stealing offences “brazen”.

Lawyer Katie Patterson said a decline in her client’s mental health is what led to this new offending, but he was remorseful for his actions.

She told the court Dowsett was homeless at the time and had been living in a rotunda at Kawana Waters, where he had made friends with various people in the community. He planned on returning to Kawana upon his release.

She said Dowsett had a Bachelor of Science from the University of the Sunshine Coast, but did not have a job.

Dowsett was sentenced to nine months behind bars, with an immediate parole release.

The 51 days he spent in presentence custody was declared time served.

There was no restitution sought for the stolen items.

Convictions were recorded.