Drug addict who stole tools from Bunnings to feed ice habit put guard in headlock in bid to escape.
AN ICE-ADDICTED shoplifter put a security guard in a headlock after being caught nicking tools from Bunnings.
South East
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AN ICE-ADDICTED shoplifter put a security guard in a headlock after being caught nicking tools from Bunnings.
And the druggie also harassed his partner for money to buy more ice, threatening her when her bank card didn’t work.
Rajesh Kumar pleaded guilty to theft, assault and threatening behaviour charges at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court yesterday (June 18).
The court heard the Noble Park 33-year-old went to Bunnings in Keysborough on April 29 and picked up an array of hardware including cordless drivers, batteries and other tools.
He then left the store without paying before being confronted by a loss prevention officer. In their office he became aggressive, putting one of the guards in a headlock.
Police were called, they arrested Kumar and he told them he stole to sell the items for drug money.
Two weeks later he verbally abused his partner in front of their children, demanding she give him cash. She told him she didn’t have any, and he instead demanded her bank card.
When he went to use it didn’t work; he came back to the house and police arrested him.
Later that night he rang her and asked for more money, before she hung up in fear.
The following day police arrested him again, and he was remanded for breaching court orders.
In court his defence lawyer said he had started taking ice because of a family issue about a year ago.
His brother, who lives in his native India, went missing in September, and still hasn’t been found.
She said the stress of that and his depression had set him on a spiral of drug use, which necessitated his need for money.
Magistrate Doug Bolster said he had a chance of rehabilitation as the man’s partner had forgiven him and he was prepared to undergo counselling for his drug problems.
Kumar was sentenced to 35 days in jail, which he has already served, and he was released.