Bailey Clifford pleads guilty to theft spree

A Belmont thief used his own Facebook account to try and hawk a stolen bike and limited edition shoes he’d nicked – the only such pair in Victoria – court documents reveal.

Geelong teenager Bailey Clifford, 19.

A Belmont thief used his own Facebook account to try and hawk a stolen bike and limited edition shoes, court documents reveal.

Bailey Clifford, 19, appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court via videolink on Friday and pleaded guilty to 22 charges, including attempted burglary, multiple thefts, possessing ice and cannabis, committing offences while on bail, going equipped to steal and dealing with property suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

Documents released by the court reveal on May 20 last year, Clifford was spotted by residents in Grovedale trying to break into cars.

Around 11pm, he was found by police sitting on a “large bag of belongings” with a large yellow screwdriver in his pocket and wearing black gloves and a headtorch.

He was found with two small bags of ice and a bag of cannabis, while the bag he was sitting on contained a litany of items including stolen ID and bank cards, two hammers, a Stanley knife, numerous house and car keys, rings, sunglasses, cigarette packets, purses and a multi-tool.

Court documents state Clifford admitted to stealing from four cars and that “most” of the items in the bag had been stolen.

Between May 20 and May 26, 2023, Clifford stole a $500 mountain bike from a Belmont address.

After noticing the theft, the victim looked at Facebook marketplace and found a listing Clifford had made.

Clifford had used his own Facebook account and carpet in the listing matched his bedroom.

When interviewed by police on June 13, Clifford made full admissions, stating he ended up “swapping the bike for drugs”.

Clifford’s spree continued five days later when he stole from cars in Armstrong Creek pilfering wallets and Travis Scott edition Jordan 6 shoes – believed by the victim to be the only such pair in Victoria.

When the sun came up, Clifford paid for a taxi using a stolen card.

He made a listing on Facebook and was again arrested, but refused to be interviewed.

On July 17 last year at about 8pm, a man confronted Clifford in his garage, before chasing him into the street where Clifford hid under a neighbour’s car. 

The man and his neighbour performed a citizen’s arrest on Clifford by the time police arrived.

Clifford’s lawyer told the court the trajectory of his client’s life changed and he “wasn’t the same” after he suffered a brain injury following a car crash in 2021.

“There was a change in his personality,” his lawyer said.

Clifford commenced using ice and had been “sleeping rough” at times during the offending.

Magistrate Kimberley Swadesir told the court there were a number of people who “now call themselves victims” because of Clifford’s actions.

“They didn’t deserve to be victims of any crime,” she said.

“They will suffer in a variety of ways, either in relation to the particular items that were stolen, or from the fear they are not safe in their own homes and their vehicles or other property are not safe.”

Clifford was sentenced to four months jail, minus 104 days time served, and 30 days for breaching a CCO.

Originally published as Bailey Clifford pleads guilty to theft spree