Alleged fraudster Matthew Foreman facing shoplifting charges

An alleged Illawarra fraudster has cited the high-profile murder of his solicitor sister when applying for bail on a string of fresh charges.

Matthew Foreman outside Port Kembla Local Court in November. Picture: Dylan Arvela

A Lake Illawarra man on bail for allegedly swindling more than $300,000 from a retiree’s superannuation account has been pulled before the courts for a fresh set of charges.

Matthew James Foreman, 40, faced court on Wednesday on three counts of shoplifting. He is also facing several fraud charges from separate alleged offending.

Police allege in court documents that Foreman had “zero regard for the law” and outlined a trio of thefts throughout November.

About 3.30pm on November 6, Foreman was allegedly captured on CCTV entering the Warrawong Plaza coles via a fire exit.

Documents state he picked up a shopping basket before loading it up and leaving with more than $300 worth of items.

It is alleged Foreman was back at it again on the evenings of November 22 and 23, when he was seen allegedly stealing $150 worth of items on both occasions.

The three incidents were reported to police, and Foreman was arrested on Wednesday when he went to report for bail.

In Wollongong Local Court on Thursday, Foreman‘s lawyer Anthony Stewart said the accused’s life had been “spiralling” since the high-profile murder of his sister and well-regarded solicitor, Katie Foreman, in 2011.

The court heard Matthew Foreman had been “spiralling” since the murder of his sister, Katie Foreman.

“It‘s a sad situation with his sister Katie,” Mr Stewart said.

“Since then he has been on a downward spiral,” he added, citing Foreman‘s heroin addiction which he is trying to overcome via a bupe injection program.

Mr Stewart also submitted Foreman needed to support his elderly father.

Magistrate Claire Girotto noted she had dealt with Foreman “many times” and said his sister‘s murder was ”something you don’t forget”.

However, she questioned how she could give him bail, adding, “You can‘t come to court and say your father is sick and expect to get bail”.

Matthew Foreman allegedly stole $600 worth of goods from Coles Warrawong. Picture: Dylan Arvela

“It‘s like hearing a broken record of him saying ‘I need to be let out and I need help’,” she said.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Tanya Pavlin said it was a “strong prosecution case and a term of imprisonment was likely” with Foreman uttering “Yeah, fair enough”.

The magistrate granted bail and ordered Forman not to go to Coles Warrawong, report twice a week to Lake Illawarra Police Station, attend the Illawarra Drug and Alcohol Service and continue participating in the bupe program.

“You need to stop stealing, it‘s essentially that,” Ms Girotto said.

“If I stop using the drugs I’ll be right,” Foreman replied.

The shoplifting charges as well as the fraud matter will be heard in Port Kembla Local Court later this month.

Foreman faces four counts of dealing with identity information to commit an indictable offence, and three counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.