Coles South Morang: Paolo Guida steals baby formula for meth
A man who was caught stealing almost $650 of baby formula surprised a magistrate when it was revealed he did not have a baby. He was instead using the baby food to support something much more sinister.
North
Don't miss out on the headlines from North. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A man stole baby formula to support his methamphetamine habit, smuggling almost $650 of formula out of Coles stores in four weeks.
Paolo Guida lost his construction job because of the coronavirus lockdown, causing him to relapse into using methamphetamine, Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court has heard.
The Kealba man pleaded guilty to all charges on Thursday, June 11, having spent 12 days behind bars.
The court heard on seven occasions between April 13 and May 3, Guida had walked out of Coles stores carrying several tins of baby formula
He targeted Coles South Morang, but also robbed Coles Taylors Hill and Coles Caroline Springs, getting away with $647 worth of formula in total.
MORE: WOMAN ALLEGEDLY MADE CHILD FILM SEX ACTS
LEGO RAID UNCOVERS MUM’S LONG LIST OF ALLEGED CRIMES
HOW THIEF STOLE TRAFFIC CONTROL CAR WITH WORKER NEXT TO IT
Guida was arrested on May 30 when he was caught driving on a disqualified licence in a car with a suspended registration in Epping.
The court heard Guida was on bail at the time of all the crimes.
His lawyer, Emily Metcalfe, explained his change in circumstances because loss of his job had led to him offending to support his drug habit.
“He doesn’t have a baby?” Magistrate Denise Livingstone asked.
The court heard Guida did not, and was the father of a six-year-old son who lived with his mother.
Taking into account the 12 days he had already been in custody, Ms Livingstone sentenced him to a community corrections order, and disqualified his licence for six months.