Court warns prolific Birkdale pilferer jail likely should he keep ignoring orders
A magistrate has given a father of six a dire warning after more than a dozen thefts and three incidents of driving while disqualified.
Redlands Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Redlands Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A 35-year-old prolific thief and unemployed father of six – five of them young – has been urged by a frustrated magistrate to think of his children the next time he is tempted to steal after he was given “one last chance”.
RELATED STORIES:
Birkdale man faces 8 stealing charges after allegedly headbutting shopkeeper
Redland Bay aged care worker dons disguise to steal from 91-year-old client with dementia
Birkdale father ‘creates more victims’ with ‘brazen’ jewellery theft at Wellington Point home
A plainly irked magistrate Deborah Vasta questioned whether the man deserved the mercy of the court but was swayed to let him serve out his prison sentence in the community because a promising program was available for prolific offenders.
It took some time for the magistrate to read through Birkdale man Peter Ngarata Hohepa’s offending when he appeared at the Cleveland Magistrates Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to 13 thefts, three instances of driving while court disqualified and one count of assault occasioning bodily harm, among other charges.
“I don’t know what to do with your client,” magistrate Vasta said.
“He shows a complete disregard for court orders.
“I am sick of seeing him at my court.”
The court heard Hohepa stole various items, from fuel to vacuum cleaners, a crowbar, air conditioner, a fish net, groceries, phone parts, lights and a TV from a host of locations and businesses.
The defendant, the court was told, pilfered from Bunnings, Australia Post, Spotlight, a Carindale phone store, Woolworths and numerous fuel stations.
However, Hohepa’s most serious offending occurred when he headbutted a store owner during the theft of a fishing net from Nice Choice at Birkdale Fair Shopping Centre on September 15.
The court heard the extensive spate of thieving occurred between December 18 last year to September this year.
Further aggravating matters, a police prosecutor said much of the defendant’s recent offending was committed while on a suspended sentence and parole for similar deeds.
Defence solicitor Kelli Martin said Hohepa had made good money as a subcontractor for Telstra before a previous stint in jail and had gone long periods without offending.
However, Magistrate Vasta challenged this when she told the court the man had stolen while he still worked.
Ms Martin said her client’s offending was largely driven by a significant alcohol problem that sees him consume at least six beers a day.
The court was further told the defendant had made a recent discovery of a traumatic event earlier in his life which had impacted on his mental health.
All of which did little to dissuade the magistrate’s frustration.
The defendant was disqualified from driving for six years and three months and sentenced to a 12-month intensive corrections order to be served in the community with three years’ probation.
It was further recommended Hohepa participate in a prolific offender program.
The Birkdale man was also banned from coming within 100 metres of Nice Choice at Birkdale Fair Shopping Centre and he was ordered to pay his headbutt victim $400 in compensation.
A conviction was recorded.