The Snitch: Man tries to hold up supermarket with a plastic bag and his finger
The Snitch: A man has appeared in court accused of trying to hold up a supermarket in Sydney’s southwest — armed only with his finger and a plastic-bag disguise.
NSW
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It’s only February but there’s already a strong contender for this year’s dumbest defendant.
Police allege the man in question tried to hold up a supermarket in Airds in Sydney’s southwest in late January with nothing but a plastic bag and a good old-fashioned “finger gun”.
CCTV from inside the supermarket showed the would-be robber with the shopping bag —
the traditional eco-unfriendly plastic kind — over his face as he approached bewildered staff
at the counter.
He then pointed his fingers like a gun and waved it towards the female shop attendant.
It’s alleged the man, dressed in a T-shirt, shorts and with a small bag across his body, then had the hide to demand money.
The footage shows him thrusting his finger gun a couple of times at the shop attendant.
But it turns out they make ’em tough in the southwest — the attendant laughed at the man as he stood there empty-handed.
He then glanced over his shoulder at the empty store before he cut his losses and ran out.
According to a bemused police source, the amateur holdup attempt was not a joke.
REALITY STAR’S PLEA
The reality TV star charged over a domestic violence assault involving a Nutribullet has walked away with no conviction.
Sidney Pierucci, a Bondi influencer who appeared on The Amazing Race, was charged with assaulting partner Ashley Ruscoe, who also appeared on the show, at a Bellevue Hill apartment in October.
Pierucci initially told the court he planned to fight the charges, where police alleged he damaged a Nutribullet and a doorway during a heated argument.
However, after some legal negotiations Pierucci pleaded guilty to a minor charge and walked away with no conviction.
“He’s essentially pleaded guilty to throwing water on a bed,” his lawyer
Paul McGirr said.
Described as “the influencers”, Pierucci and Ruscoe debuted on the Channel 10 show in November where teams of two compete in a race around the world to win $250,000.
We’re told they’re no longer together but remain friends.
JUDGE GRILLED
We’re hearing whispers that one of the state’s judges has had some unwelcome sittings with the NSW Judicial Commission recently after a trial they were hearing went off the rails and saw the defendant walk free.
Keen readers of The Snitch will remember back in August when we told you the judge had been referred after calling the lead police investigator into their chambers for a discussion. The chat was allegedly about the star witness in the case and how the evidence could best be presented.
No one had told the defence lawyers, and the existence of the meeting was only revealed months later when the case was being heard by another judge, who we’re told had a mild palpitation when it emerged.
The jury was discharged and the meeting in the judge’s chambers figured heavily in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions’ decision to not run the trial for a second time, meaning the accused walked free.
The ODPP referred the matter to the Judicial Commission.
We’re told the judge has been involved in some closed-door meetings with the commission in recent weeks.
Naturally, no one in officialdom wanted to confirm to us any details of the meeting. The only time investigations are confirmed is when the commission’s findings are tabled in NSW parliament.
PORN CHARGE WIN
A senior constable accused of sharing an intimate image of her boss has claimed a small win after her revenge porn charge was dropped.
But Erin Louise Fry still faces a fight to hang onto her job.
The 31-year-old was charged last July with intentionally distribute intimate image without consent.
It was alleged Ms Fry showed her superior’s wife an intimate photograph involving the commissioned officer.
The wife had confronted Ms Fry, alleging she had been involved in a relationship with her husband.
While Ms Fry intended to fight the charge, the Director of Public Prosecutions decided to withdraw the charge in Albury Local Court this month.
It is unclear exactly why the charge was dropped but there are defences under legislation for sending intimate images without consent.
It is understood Ms Fry is still suspended from the police force with pay and faces possible
disciplinary action.
MOST WANTED
Heads turned in the Downing Centre Court complex last week when a call for “Australia’s Most Wanted” to front up to courtroom 4.5 boomed over the PA system.
It wasn’t a prank — someone legitimately registered their car under that business name.
Ironically, the driver is still wanted because he was a no show.
He was convicted in his absence and fined $1500 for traffic offences, including running a red light.
Got a snitch? Contact Ava.benny-morrison@news.com.au or Brenden.hills@news.com.au
Originally published as The Snitch: Man tries to hold up supermarket with a plastic bag and his finger
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