Brent Joseph Samuel Brittain broke into Pratten cafe, stole soft drink

A magistrate has warned a coke can fan he may no longer be a “valued customer” at one of a small town’s only businesses following a bizarre late-night break-in.

Brent Joseph Samuel Brittain pleaded guilty to one count of break and enter after a late night soft drink steal on February 12, at Warwick Magistrates Court.

A man has been sentenced after he was busted breaking into a local cafe in the dead of night to cure his thirst.

Brent Joseph Samuel Brittain appeared in Warwick Magistrates Court on February 12, after his “unusual” crime was exposed.

The 22-year-old beverage burglar made his move on January 11, at Pratten, northwest of Warwick.

The court heard how the man appeared outside the closed cafe just after 10pm.

Brittain was caught on CCTV, before attempting to block the camera’s view by placing a cap over it.

He forced entry to the business before helping himself to the fridge, taking three cans of cokes before leaving with the soft drinks.

Brent Joseph Samuel Brittain plead guilty to one count of break and enter after a late-night soft drink steal on February 12, at Warwick Magistrates Court.

Brittain told police he had been in an “incident” and walked 10km to Pratten to find a phone box to call a family member, couldn’t find one and was “thirsty” so broke into the cafe.

Defence lawyer Brad Skuse told the court his client’s actions were “stupid and foolish”, but Brittain surrendered to police within 24 hours of the offending and made full admissions.

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess said breaking into the cafe was a “very strange thing to do”.

“This is a serious offence, and it’s unusual, but I accept you’re not ordinarily breaking into property,” Magistrate Virginia Sturgess said.

“If you’re a regular attender at this cafe, they might not be very welcoming after this episode and they might not think of you as a valued customer.”

Brittain was fined $600.

No convictions were recorded.