Homeless Mildura man Sam Noun gives strange excuse for violent crime spree over booze, pokies and a vape

A homeless man who left a trail of destruction across Mildura, told police he had no memory of his rampage because it was “probably a hot day”.

The court heard Sam Noun left a trail of destruction totalling more than $30k, including doing $20,000 damage to the Grand Hotel on Seventh St.

A homeless Mildura man who caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage across several businesses blamed the heat for actions telling police “It was probably a hot day, I do weird s--t.”

Sam Noun, 33, appeared before Mildura Magistrates’ Court, to plead guilty to multiple charges including criminal damage and assault with a weapon.

In September 2024 Noun stole four cans of cider from First Choice Liquor Market, but after reconsidering, returned one before fleeing. Months earlier, he had also stolen a bottle of Green Fairy Absinthe from the BWS on Langtree Ave.

Just weeks after the First Choice Liquor Market theft, Noun smashed 11 windows at the Grand Hotel on Seventh Street following an argument over a poker machine payout.

Magistrate Patrick Southey handed down a sentence he hoped would be a circuit breaker for Noun after years of alcohol related criminal activity.

A month later, police spotted Noun on Eighth Street and, after a short foot chase, arrested him. During a search, officers found an open packet of Suboxone, a prescription opioid treatment drug, and questioned him about it.

“Doctors are racist, so I don’t go to the doctors,” Noun told police.

On January 17, Noun destroyed a cash register at Central Market and threatened grocery store staff over an empty vape he believed they had sold him. He then pulled out a plasterer’s trowel and made threats.

“If you want to fight, I can fight. I’ll kill you with this,” Noun said to staff.

In another incident, he was caught kicking in the front window of Royal Copenhagen Ice Cream on Eighth Street.

Central Market in Mildura was a target of Noun's alcoholic rage when he destroyed a cash register and threatened several staff members. Picture: Facebook

The total cost of damages caused by Noun’s crime spree is said to have cost business owners more than $30,000.

Magistrate Patrick Southey handed down a sentence he hoped would be a “circuit breaker” for Noun.

“Alcohol has been getting you into trouble for many years, and this will be your first long-term imprisonment,” Mr Southey said.

Noun was sentenced to six and a half months in prison, followed by an 18-month community corrections order aimed at improving his mental health and addressing his alcoholism.

“If you can get off the grog, you’re not a lost cause,” Mr Southey said.

Should he serve his full sentence, Noun is expected to be released in August 2025.