‘Entitled loner’ Jayden Von Sanden cops serial shoplifting punishment

An Illawarra ‘loner’ has scuppered a chance of gaining a friend, a court has heard, as he was sentenced for a litany of food thefts.

Jayden Von Sanden was sentenced in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday.

A Berkeley man characterised in court as a “loner” has been sentenced for a string of “entitled” shoplifting offences and assaulting the final vestige of his social circle.

Jayden Von Sanden fronted Wollongong Local Court via video link on Tuesday to be sentenced, with Magistrate Chris McRobert left “troubled” by the 21-year-old who had already developed a substantial criminal record.

The charges before the court on Tuesday included 15 counts of shoplifting, 16 counts of entering an enclosed land without permission, damaging property and common assault.

The court heard the series of stealing charges stemmed back to a three-week period in October and November, last year, when Von Sanden treated Coles Berkeley like his personal pantry.

Von Sanden stole a plethora of pre-packaged goods including yoghurt, chocolate, protein bars, ice cream, a roll of salami and a ham and cheese sandwich.

On all 15 occasions the thief was banned from entering the premises due to previous shoplifting and an incident that led staff to be told not to confront him when they saw him in the store.

The court heard the other violent offences took place on November 9, 2022, when a man deemed a friend of Von Sanden arrived home from work.

Von Sanden wanted to hang out with him, however, the man wanted some down time.

Magistrate McRobert said the offender was “seemingly enraged by the rejection” and kicked in the man’s front door which collided with his head.

Defence lawyer Emil Ozer said Von Sanden pinched the food out of necessity given he had run out of money from his Centrelink payments.

The court heard Jayden Von Sanden had stolen from Coles Berkeley on more than 15 occasions.

Ms Ozer also highlighted Von Sanden’s vulnerabilities including an acquired brain injury and lack of “support and community ties”.

“Does he not know about budgeting,” Mr McRobert asked.

“Does he spend all of his Centrelink money in the first week and steal for the rest of it?

“He goes into the store and helps himself to whatever he likes until he comes back before the court. He displays a sense of entitlement whenever he feels comfortable.”

Mr McRobert noted a previous two-month prison sentence for shoplifting offences when ordering him to serve 18 months behind bars.

“He is what some in the community might call a loner,” the magistrate said when handing down his judgment.

“He doesn’t appear to have support from family and friends. He may have had a friend in [victim] before he laid an attack on him.

“He is in difficult financial circumstances, but there are plenty of people who cope on Centrelink payments. I am not suggesting it is a life of luxury and it’s nothing less than difficult, but they find a way, but Mr Von Sanden takes the easy way out.”

The magistrate set a non-parole period of 12 months dating back to January 2, this year, and fined Von Sanden a total of $2000 for the multiple entering an enclosed land without permission offences.