Craig Gaultier: Bomaderry teen sentenced on seven counts of shoplifting

A teen has been pinched for helping himself to more than $650 worth of goods from various south coast stores amid a “shameful” shoplifting spree where he stuffed everything from chocolates to alcohol down his pants.

Craig Gaultier stole $652 worth of goods. Picture: Tom McGann

The details of a teen’s “shameful” shoplifting spree, where he stuffed everything from chocolates to alcohol down his pants before shuffling out of various south coast stores, have been revealed by a court.

Craig Gaultier, 18, stole more than $600 worth of goods from a variety of Shoalhaven stores across a 15-day period in June and July this year, according to court documents.

The Bomaderry man, who faced the Nowra Local Court on Tuesday for sentencing, began his shoplifting spree on June 26, stealing $11 worth of chocolates and energy drinks from a Coles supermarket, before stealing an additional $15 of baked goods from the same store the following day.

Documents tendered to the court reveal Gaultier then hit Liquorland, Nowra, on July 1, stealing a $9 Great Northern can, before returning nine days later and helping himself to $206 worth of vodka.

Agreed facts reveal a number of other shoplifting during the two-week period, including further items from Coles – like $47 worth of dairy products – and additional bottles of alcohol from other liquor stores – such as four bottles of Jim Beam from BWS Nowra, totalling $304.

Craig Gaultier stole a number of items from Coles. Picture: File

The court heard on Tuesday that Gaultier nicked a total of $652 worth of items during his shoplifting spree.

Agreed facts state police officers were soon made aware of the repeat offending and believed the culprit was someone they knew.

Craig Gaultier leaving Nowra Local Court. Picture: Tom McGann

On July 16 – six days after the final shoplifting offence – police visited Gaultier’s Bomaderry home believing he had been shoplifting.

Agreed facts state the 18-year-old initially denied the offending, claiming CCTV images shown to him by the officers were “fake”.

However, officer’s arrested the teen and searched his person at the Nowra Police Station, discovering two Westpac debit cards bearing different names in his clothes.

Agreed facts state Gaultier claimed he was borrowing them from a friend, however the officer’s believed the cards to be unlawfully obtained.

Craig Gaultier was sentenced in the Nowra Local Court on Tuesday. Picture: Dylan Arvela

Gaultier was charged with seven counts of shoplifting and two counts of goods in custody suspected of being stolen.

He previously pleaded guilty to the charges in the Nowra Local Court.

Gaultier returned to the court on Tuesday to be sentenced for the offending, with his lawyer Neshani Chandrapal asking magistrate Geraldine Beattie for some leniency given her client’s young age and mental health issues.

Despite these calls, Ms Beattie said the offending was prolonged and serious, slamming the teen’s actions as “shameful”.

“You went around to different shops helping yourself, shoving things down your pants and then leaving without paying for them,” she said.

Gaultier was convicted for the litany of charges and sentenced to a nine month community correction order.

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