Daniel Fuller jailed after targeting family-owned Bundaberg business

A convicted thief with a decade-long criminal history has claimed his most recent spree was triggered by his children’s Christmas presents being stolen.

Daniel James Fuller’s supporters leaving Bundaberg Magistrates Court after an emotional farewell, Thursday, February 13, 2025.

A Magistrate has slammed a “prolific property offender” with a decade-long criminal record after his most recent stealing spree landed him behind bars.

Daniel James Fuller pleaded guilty in Bundaberg Magistrates Court last week to five counts of stealing and contravening a community service order handed down for previous convictions.

Magistrate Edwina Rowan said the father-of-two had been given ample opportunity to rehabilitate himself.

She said she was concerned Fuller had been undeterred from repeat offending even with prison time hanging over his head, and described him as a “prolific property offender”.

Despite the long list of stealing charges, dating back to 2015, Fuller’s lawyer said he believed rehabilitation was possible for his client.

He said his client had experienced significant housing instability between July and November 2024.

At the time of the offending, Fuller lived out of a car with his de facto partner and two children, aged two and four.

The court heard the Bundaberg father stored personal items, including a number of Christmas presents he had collected for his children, in a shed he shared with a friend.

His lawyer told the court the shed was broken into and all the presents were stolen.

The incident prompted Fuller to go on a stealing spree where he targeted local family-owned businesses, as well as Jaycar and Trade Tools in Bundaberg.

Among the items Fuller stole were various tools for car repairs and an e-scooter.

The court heard he planned to sell the stolen goods to recuperate some of the items stolen from his family.

The irony of the situation was not lost on Ms Rowan, who said the feeling of having items stolen from his shed should have deterred the father-of-two from doing the same.

Fuller was convicted and sentenced to six months in prison with parole eligibility set to Sunday, April 13, 2025.

His partner, who had been anxiously awaiting the verdict, broke down in tears at the back of the courtroom as Fuller learned his fate.

The couple embraced and cried together before Fuller was taken into custody.

Originally published as Daniel Fuller jailed after targeting family-owned Bundaberg business