Serial shoplifter jailed for running off in Nike sneakers and stealing Oak milk and Doritos chips
A man with a taste for Nike sneakers threw a McFlurry at a retail worker, took a shower in a Frankston house before punching its owner, and shoplifted from stores he claimed to own during a baffling crime spree across Melbourne’s southeast.
South East
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A shoplifter with a taste for Doritos, Oak milk and love of Nike sneakers is being served prison porridge after being jailed for a series of delusional thefts.
James Parks pleaded guilty to theft, criminal damage and assault charges at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, June 16.
The homeless 36-year-old, who has a long history of drug and deception-related offending, repeatedly walked into servos, shops and a pawnbrokers, took what he wanted and walked out, telling staff he “owned” the store and could do what he liked.
On June 15 — the day before facing court — Parks went into a Frankston pawnbrokers and tried on a pair of blue and orange Nike runners.
He walked around for a while to see if they fitted before pointing to a woman he did not know and saying “she’ll pay for them” and running out of the shop.
The shop assistant caught up with him at a nearby McDonalds and confronted Parks about the theft of the shoes, which he was still wearing.
Parks threw a McFlurry at the man, who had already called police, and officers located him in Young St.
He told police he “owned the store” and admitted the theft but denied throwing the dessert.
He was on bail at the time for previous shopliftings.
In May went into a Seaford servo, grabbed three packets of Doritos and a carton of Oak milk drink and put them in his clothes.
When the shop assistant asked him what he was doing, he became abusive and smashed the protective counter screen before running off.
Police found him nearby munching on the chips and, when asked why he had committed the thefts, he told them he had purposely gone there to steal the food and drinks.
In March he walked into a Frankston house, took a shower and when found in the living room by the homeowner, he punched the man in the head before fleeing the scene.
And in December last year he went into a Coles store in Frankston, stole two cans of soft drink and when asked to pay, told the shop assistant to “f--- off you dog”.
Police found him nearby swigging from one of the cans, and he said he did steal them but “I own Coles” so it didn’t matter.
His defence lawyer said Parks had a long history of mental illness and had money problems because he had “been banned from the bank” and couldn’t access his disability pension.
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Magistrate Ross Betts said considering Parks’ continual similar offending he had to be given a term of imprisonment.
He was jailed for 14 days, minus one day he had already served in custody.
As he was taken down to the cells, Parks shouted “14 days for milk, your honour?” and shook his head in disbelief.
He will be released later this month.