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Jamahl Hammond pleads guilty to shoplifting from Bunnings at Byron Bay, facing additional assault, wounding charges

A Northern Rivers man with a history of property offending snuck through an unlocked Bunnings side gate and took several trips to load a haul of stolen items into a car.

Jamahl Hammond pleaded guilty to larceny. Picture: NSW Police
Jamahl Hammond pleaded guilty to larceny. Picture: NSW Police

A West Ballina man with a history of property offending snuck through an unlocked Bunnings side gate with an accomplice and loaded a car full of stolen tools. while on parole.

Jamahl Hammond pleaded guilty via video link at Ballina Local Court on Thursday to larceny.

The 22-year-old and co-offender Hannah Roberts stole more than $400 worth of items from Bunnings at Byron Bay.

Hammond and Roberts drove into the business’s car park in a Holden Cruze about 3pm on January 30.

They strolled through the aisles before Hammond stashed a Full Boar 40-piece impact torsion bit set into Robert’s backpack, court documents state.

Roberts took the item to the Holden without paying.

Jamahl Hammond.
Jamahl Hammond.

Hammond then placed a Hart five piece 200mm file set, a Hart three-piece 200mm file set and a Trojan 10-piece mini file set into a basket and snuck out the door he entered to unpack the stolen items into the car.

Hammond re-entered two more times, stealing a Companion 468g resealable propane cartridge and Ryobi 18V power washing kit, before he hopped in the car and drove off.

Someone informed a Bunnings worker that stock had been stolen and the offenders left through a nursery gate, which was supposed to be locked.

Staff viewed CCTV footage and reported the incident to police.

Hammond and Roberts stole hundreds of dollars of tools from Bunnings.
Hammond and Roberts stole hundreds of dollars of tools from Bunnings.

Roberts, who was guilty of larceny, was fined $800 and ordered to pay Bunnings $40 in compensation.

Hammond was on parole until 2024 when he offended and “is a prolific property theft offender”, police state in the documents.

Hammond faces additional charges of reckless wounding, using a weapon to commit an offence and two counts of common assault. He has entered not guilty pleas.

He is due to be sentenced for larceny on September 7.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/byron-shire/police-courts/jamahl-hammond-pleads-guilty-to-shoplifting-from-bunnings-at-byron-bay-facing-additional-assault-wounding-charges/news-story/909549ed9fde08e1fd1c08b92bcf0cc4