Jesse Norris: Bendigo dad steals Christmas presents

A Central Victorian dad couldn’t resist a five-finger discount to wrap-up his Christmas shopping. But that’s not the only reason he was on Santa’s naughty list.

Jesse Norris, 25, appeared in Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Friday July 2 on to plead guilty to stealing $675 worth of children’s toys, bras, makeup cases and clothes from Hoppers Crossing businesses on December 23, 2020. Picture: Facebook

A Central Victorian dad couldn’t resist a five-finger discount to wrap-up his Christmas shopping, a court has heard.

Jesse James Norris appeared in Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on July 2 to plead guilty to stealing $675 worth of children’s toys, bras, makeup cases and clothes from Hoppers Crossing businesses on December 23 last year.

Court documents revealed Norris’s Christmas shopping list.

The 25-year-old father was busted stealing two children’s toys, swimwear and a black top worth a total of $95 from Target.

Norris grabbed a $39.99 candle from Dusk, a pink make-up case worth $49.99 from Collette, $15 worth of Christmas plates from Kmart, a $26.99 toy from Toy World, a $24 bra from Best and Less and a $25 Xbox wallet from EB Games.

His most expensive stolen present was a children’s toy horse worth $399 from Myer.

But the court heard Norris was already on Santa’s naughty list — having smashed a window to intimidate a woman’s new boyfriend.

Court documents said Norris was drunk and spent 10 minutes yelling and banging on the front door of the woman’s property on March 2 2020.

“Tell your down syndrome boyfriend to get his ass out here,” Norris yelled as he pounded on the door.

He then smashed a front window, causing $200 of damage, before running off.

Court documents said Norris was also caught driving while disqualified three times in 2020.

Norris fled from his car during a routine licence and registration check at Melton on April 16.

In his escape he abandoned two passengers who were left to answer police questions.

While they denied knowledge who the driver was, Norris left behind his phone which meant officers could track him down.

Police also spotted Norris driving erratically while his girlfriend and young daughter were in the car on the Calder Freeway at Harcourt North on July 8 2020.

Norris said he was driving to get away from a home invasion that happened earlier that night and the group were heading to Bendigo.

Norris openly told the officer he had never held a licence and had been disqualified from driving for three years in August 2019 following a significant crash.

He was busted for a third time on October 30 at Bacchus Marsh.

On Friday July 2, Norris pleaded guilty to wilful damage, theft and disqualified driving.

Magistrate Sharon McRae fined Norris $1500 and ordered him to pay the $129.30 in statutory costs and a $200 compensation payment.

A conviction was recorded.