Shane Ohia, 34, faces Lismore Local Court for stealing, threatening cashier and police with knife

A serial North Coast thief threatened an IGA cashier with a knife and then tried the same on police officers. Here’s what happened.

IGA X-Press Goonellabah, where Ohia threatened a worker with a 20cm blade.

A serial North Coast thief exclaimed “I’ll get my NDIS worker to pay for it” when he was pulled up by police for waving a knife at a cashier and walking off with cigarettes.

Shane Ohia then confronted the officers with a 20 centimetre blade.

The 34-year-old who is now living with his mother at Coffee Camp stole a variety of items from different locations across the north of the state, Lismore Local Court heard.

Ohia strolled from an IGA with cigarettes after threatening a cashier with a knife.

On August 1, Ohia entered Goonellabah IGA on Rous Rd and walked out with the cigarettes after threatening the cashier, the court was told.

Police identified Ohia, who was captured on CCTV, and went to his unit.

He refused to open the door and said: “I’ll get my NDIS worker to pay for it and you can put the fine in the mail. Now, f--k off.”

Officers forced their way in and found Ohia waving the knife.

He screamed at them to “get the f--k out”, police state in court documents.

Police ordered Ohia to drop the knife and pulled out a taser.

Ohia was arrested and taken to Lismore Police Station, where he refused to be interviewed.

Between August 1-September 4, Ohia stole cigarettes and other items from IGA X-Press, Goonellabah and the BP truck stop in north Ballina

Police also found him with tools and gift cards suspected to be stolen.

Ohia surendered when a taser was pulled out. Picture: Richard Walker

In early September, Ohia was caught with a ziplock bag containing a bundle of cards, including $100 gift cards, and a hammer, among other items officers suspected were stolen.

Ohia told police he “found them on the ground”, but could not remember where, according to the documents.

He also told the officers his mum needed a hammer, so he was going to give the hammer to her.

The court was told Ohia had been receiving more than a $1000 per fortnight in payments, with a portion from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

But police state he has been “habitually” involved in “stealing and property crime”.

“He receives a significant sum of money each fortnight but chooses to spend it all on illicit drugs instead of his basic needs,” the documents state.

This BP truck stop was targeted by Ohia.

Ohia has a lengthy criminal history including drug and violence offences, the court heard.

He pleaded guilty to and was convicted of larceny, going armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, shoplifting and having goods in person custody suspected of being stolen.

Ohia avoided prison on Monday.

Magistrate Phillip Stewart sentenced him to serve an eight-month intensive correction order.