Mildura sweet tooth crim Jonathon Peterson steals lollies, bike, and threatens Coles staff with machete

A Mildura crook’s crime spree spiralled from stealing sweets to help with his diabetes, threatening a Coles staff member with a machete, smashing windows and swiping a $2000 bike.

Jonathon Peterson threatened a Coles staff member with a machete when he was confronted about his theft of lollies and chocolates. Picture: Generic.

A Mildura crook with a sweet tooth indulged in more than just chocolate during a crime spree where he stole a $2000 bike, smashed windows and threatened a Coles staff member with a machete.

Jonathan Peterson fronted Mildura Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including shop theft, criminal damage and trespass.

Peterson stole a stash of chocolate bars and lollies from Coles, Woolworths, and Kmart on multiple occasions.

When a Coles staff member approached Peterson on one occasion, the court heard Peterson told the staff member he was going to cut their head off with a machete the next time he saw them.

Peterson regularly stole chocolate and lollies from various supermarkets around town. Picture: Generic

On another occasion, Peterson stole lollies from the Reject Shop, and when he was later questioned by police, the stolen candy fell from his pockets.

Peterson and a co-accused stole a $2000 bike from Sunraysia Community Health Services, and also smashed a window at the ABC Mildura building.

Police also told the court Peterson had been found on San Mateo Ave with three different sets of keys and multiple identification documents that didn’t belong to him.

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Peterson’s lawyer, Michael Mazzone, said his client had been using illicit substances since he was 13 and said he struggled with mental health issues.

“(Peterson) has struggled for a significant amount of time with substance abuse issues,” Mr Mazzone said.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan sentenced Peterson to 42 days behind bars, and with 79 days PSD, he was released immediately.

Mr Mazzone also said his client was driven to the offending because his Centrelink payments had been cut off and he was a diabetic and needed the sugar from candy bars.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan acknowledged Peterson had served 79 days of pre-sentence detention and told him it was time to go home.

“But for the plea of guilty, I would have sentenced you to three months’ imprisonment,” Mr Coghlan said.

“You’ve been in custody for 79 days and now it is time for you to go home.”

Mr Coghlan gave Peterson an aggregate 42-day sentence and told him to seek help with his methamphetamine addiction.

“It is a horrible drug that causes people to do awful things, Mr Peterson,” Mr Coghlan said.