Mildura Magistrates’ Court: Dion Peace pleads guilty to smashing BWS window and stealing slab

Just two days after being released from prison a Mildura man has used a gardening tool to break into a liquor store and steal a slab of beer.

Dion Peace, 43, used a shovel to smash a window into Mildura's Langtree Ave BWS store, just two days after he was released from prison. Picture: Michael DiFabrizio

A Mildura man who used a shovel to break the windows of a BWS to steal grog has been exposed as a serial offender.

Dion Peace, 43, pleaded guilty in Mildura Magistrates’ Court on November 6 to charges of burglary and intentionally causing damage to property.

The court heard Peace had been released from Port Phillip Prison on Friday, November 3 for similar offending but was in trouble again just two days later.

Peace was seen walking up to the BWS with a shovel, before using the gardening tool to smash through the front window of the store.

The court heard he reached inside the shop and stole a slab of Great Northern Ginger Beer, costing $104.

When police approached Peace a short time later he tried to hide the slab by putting it into a nearby bin.

Peace was arrested and he later confessed to the theft and break in.

He told police he had “tried rocks, but they weren’t working”, so he went home to get a shovel.

In court on Monday, Peace said he was “really sorry for what he’d done”.

Magistrate Patrick Southey said he was getting the impression that Peace wanted to go back into custody.

“He’s reoffended so soon after his release, I wonder if he just wants to go back to his comfortable existence in prison,” he said.

“He didn’t even wear a disguise or try to hide his offending.”

Mr Southey said he was taking into account Peace’s guilty plea, and that life outside prison would potentially be “difficult” for him.

“I have to keep trying to send you a message and try to protect public property too,” Mr Southey said.

“You just act like you want to go back to prison.”

Peace was convicted and sentenced to four months behind bars.