Birkdale man faces 8 stealing charges after allegedly headbutting shopkeeper for a fishing net
A Birkdale father to five children under six has been given a get out of jail card and ordered to wear a tracking device while he awaits trial despite prolific stealing offences and allegedly headbutting a shopkeeper.
Redlands Coast
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A father-of-five who allegedly headbutted a shopkeeper during the theft of a fishing net will have his every move followed with a tracking device after he was put on house arrest while he awaits his next trial date for a host of stealing charges.
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Appearing from custody at the Cleveland Magistrates Court today Peter Ngarata Hohepa, 35, was told the only reason he would not remain in remand was because he has five children under the age of six.
The court heard Birkdale man Hohepa was alleged to have stolen on March 10 and 15, April 12 and 18 and August 4.
He was further alleged to have stolen from Victoria Point Bunnings on August 20 and from Mount Gravatt Bunnings on August 21.
But it was his alleged offending on September 15 which drew most ire from Magistrate Deborah Vasta.
The court was told the defendant swung a bag with alcohol bottles at a shopkeeper who witnessed him allegedly steal a fishing net from Nice Choice at Birkdale Fair Shopping Centre, smashing a bottle in the process.
When that did not dissuade the shopkeeper, who had grabbed ahold of the allegedly stolen fishing net, Hohepa allegedly headbutted the man who felt “immediate pain and discomfort”.
The court heard the alleged offending occurred while the defendant was on multiple bails and a suspended sentence for similar offending.
An unimpressed Magistrate Vasta said the alleged violence of the offending was a dangerous escalation that could have put the man at risk of robbery charges.
Defence solicitor Stephanie Tsimos said her client admitted to a significant alcohol problem and was “gainfully employed” prior to a 2018 stint in jail.
The court heard Hohepa was sentenced to five weeks’ jail in 2018 for five stealing offences and had committed another stealing offence two months after his release.
But it was the confirmation that Hohepa had five children under the age of six with his partner, who the court heard, also faced criminal charges for similar offending that swayed the magistrate.
The defendant was subsequently put under house arrest and ordered to wear a tracking device which would monitor his whereabouts every 15 seconds within a four-foot range.
Hohepa is scheduled to next appear at the court on October 30.