Wade Burke: Man ‘obsessed’ with Bunnings banned from all NSW stores

A man banned from the hardware mega-chain due to persistent offending has been back in store once again, thus angering a magistrate who branded him as being obsessed. 

A man banned from all NSW Bunnings due to persistent offending has been busted visiting the household hardware mega-chain.

Penrith Local Court heard Wade Burke had an “obsession” with Bunnings and had been caught offending there so many times he was now banned from stores across the state.

Since 2017 he has been before the courts in relation to matters of entering Bunnings 12 times.

However, that didn’t stop him visiting the North Penrith branch on June 15 last year.

Court documents revealed the delivery driver was in his white Mercedes Sprinter van, while his licence was cancelled, when he pulled into the timber yard section.

CCTV captured him pick up an “easy roll wheel” valued at $35 and a “metric drill bit” valued at $3.85. He paid for both items in the tools section.

Wade Jarrod Burke appeared before Penrith Local Court

As he walked back to his van, CCTV captured him picking up two boxes containing unknown items.

Burke put the two cardboard boxes in his car before driving away.

Police visited his house on July 5 and interviewed him.

He admitted going to the store and making a purchase. He also admitted to being aware he was banned from entering.

He initially denied driving the van to the store and said he had been a passenger. However, CCTV clearly showed he was the driver and the sole occupant of the vehicle.

In court Burke pleaded guilty to enter inclosed lands without lawful excuse, driving while licence application refused and driving while licence cancelled.

Magistrate Fiona Toose issued Burke some stern words, telling him: “You’ve got this obsession about going to Bunnings and you’re barred from there, so stop it.

“If they say you’re not coming in, that’s it. They don’t want you there because of all your prior offences regarding them.

The man had faced court over Bunnings related incidents over a number of years.

“You have an extensive criminal history, you were on parole. When you drive and you are not permitted to drive, you do not drive.”

The court heard Burke had been sentenced to a 10 month licence disqualification period in Parramatta Local Court on September 24, 2020. He was handed a banning notice from all NSW Bunnings stores on March 30, 2019.

In court, Magistrate Toose handed Burke a two year community corrections order for driving while disqualified and driving while licence application refused.

He was also fined $400 for entering inclosed land without lawful excuse.