Dapto teen fined after stealing bottle of Woolies homebrand coke

A $2.40 bottle of soft drink has ended up costing a young Dapto man $300, after he tried to take off from a supermarket without paying.

Shane Powter was fined $300 after he tried to steal a bottle of coke at Warilla Woolworths.

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Police claim Shane Powter, 19, pretended to scan a bottle of homebrand coca-a-cola before putting it in a bag at Woolworths Warilla on February 14 this year.

After failing to scan the drink, he walked away from the checkout and left the store, triggering the alarm system.

A witness chased Powter out of the Woolworths and grabbed him, before escorting him to the rear of the store with security.

Powter declined to be interviewed by police, and was charged with larceny.

Powter appeared at Port Kembla Court on February 27 wearing a singlet, sports cap and bumbag, which lead to him being reprimanded by Magistrate David Degnan.

“You don’t come to court in a singlet,” Magistrate Degnan said.

“Could you get into a club wearing that? No. If you can’t get into a club, don’t wear it to court.”

Magistrate Degnan fined Powter $300 for the soft-drink theft, and told him to drink water if he couldn’t afford his next bottle of fizzy.

“You stole a $2.40 can of coke and now you’re facing hundreds of dollars in fines,” he said.

“If you haven’t got the dough, get a drink of water, it’s free.”

Powter was also fined $150 for a trespassing incident in December last year.