Drunk Oakleigh East man forgot stealing booze from BWS Vermont, Liquorland Vermont South
An Oakleigh East tradie who told staff to “have a good one” as he strolled out of a Liquorland store without paying for spirits worth $258 has told police he couldn’t remember a series of thefts as he “had been drinking a lot lately”.
Inner South
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An alcoholic thief was so drunk he had no recollection of stealing from bottle shops, Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court has heard.
On one occasion the gregarious grog-lover said “have a good one” to bemused bottle shop staff as he staggered out of the store with five bottles of spirits in hand.
Anthony Bullock’s forgotten thefts were just part of a litany of liquor-fuelled offending committed last year.
The former tiler also stole a parcel containing shaving equipment from a doorstep a few houses from his Oakleigh East home and allowed a stolen ute, which was fitted with a tracking device, and stolen tools to be stored in his garage.
And he drove a distinctive Commodore with multi-coloured panels — but no registration plates — to a servo, filled up and drove home, parking outside his house.
Bullock pleaded guilty to a series of theft and handling-related offences yesterday.
The court heard Bullock went to BWS in Vermont on June 15 last year, walked to the cool store and selected cases of Canadian Club Dry and Wild Turkey cans, then walked straight past checkout staff and left the store.
A few hours later, he went to a Liquorland shop in Vermont South.
This time Bullock picked up two bottles of scotch and three bottles of Johnnie Walker and said “have a good one” as he kept on walking – without paying – for the $258 worth of spirits.
When he was arrested on October 16 last year he told police he couldn’t remember the thefts as he “had been drinking a lot lately”.
In court his defence lawyer said his offending was related to his alcohol abuse at the time and, although he had nothing to do with stealing the ute or the tools burglary, he should have known better than allow the items to be kept at his home.
Magistrate Therese McCarthy said Bullock needed help to get over his alcohol addiction, which was linked to personal issues involving grief.
“This latest round of offending is related very much to your drinking,” Ms McCarthy said.
“You were so drunk you were unable to remember (your crimes).
“You do things that are pretty nasty, things that are bad for the community.”
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Ms McCarthy said putting Bullock, who had already served 19 days on remand, on a community corrections order would reduce his risk of “falling off the wagon” and reoffending.
Bullock stood up and said he had been “drinking a lot for a long time” but did cut down late last year and now was only having “a couple of beers with a mate” on weekends.
He was sent for a corrections order assessment, with alcohol and mental health treatment conditions to be included.