Joshua Richards: Ritchies IGA, Mt Eliza bottle shops, Mornington bus passengers targeted by drunk

A drunk thug who stole from two Mt Eliza bottle shops and threatened an owner and police has had his day in court.

Ritchies IGA Mt Eliza was one of a number of bottle shops targeted by a drunk thug last year. Picture: Google

A drunk who threatened to stab passengers on board a bus and stole from two bottle shops on the Mornington Peninsula has walked from jail.

Joshua Richards, 23, pleaded guilty to charges including theft and resist emergency worker in the County Court on November 20 following the boozed-fuelled spree on November 19 last year.

The court heard Richards, from Frankston, was chased out of a Mt Eliza bottle shop when he nicked a bottle of spirits from the shelf about 1.50pm.

As the shop owner chased Richards down, the thug swung a chain with a padlock at his victim, before throwing the bottle onto the ground outside the store.

Richards then moved onto Ritchie’s IGA when he took another bottle of spirits and took off.

Police received calls a man was threatening to stab passengers on a bus bound for Mornington a short time later.

Officers found Richards slumped inside a bus shelter before he woke up and began swinging the chain at them, the court was told.

Richards refused to put the chain down as officers made several attempts for him to stop.

A knife was discovered in Richards backpack when he was eventually arrested.

He was too drunk to be interviewed at Frankston police station.

Judge Chris Yan heard Richards was exposed to family violence as a child and began drinking at the age of seven and using cannabis when he was 10.

Richards’ drinking and drug habit worsened when he was 14 years old following the death of his father, who was electrocuted as he attempted to steal copper wires.

Richards told a psychologist he wanted to commit crimes in order to return to custody where he felt “more stable”.

But Richards has not consumed alcohol or drugs since his arrest, completing a number of certificates and undertaking work behind bars.

Mr Ryan said Richards had been a victim and witness to physical abuse and that his mental health had “clearly” worsened following the death of his father.

Mr Ryan also noted Richards had family support from his sister and her partner.

“It is safe to say you have been marked by your upbringing,” he said.

Richards, who had spend 367 days in custody, was sentenced to a three-year community corrections order.