Simon Peter Dempsey pleaded guilty to stealing

A man has blamed his ADHD medication and being over stretched with work for a prolific stealing spree in which he swiped items from businesses stretching from Gympie to Gladstone.

Simon Peter Dempsey pleaded guilty to charges of stealing and attempted stealing when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court this month.

A man has blamed his ADHD medication and taking on too much work for his prolific stealing spree which will see him having to repay thousands of dollars in addition to the amounts he has already repaid.

Simon Peter Dempsey pleaded guilty to charges of stealing and attempted stealing when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court this month.

The court heard the victim businesses included Bunnings in Hervey Bay, Fresh & Save supermarket in Maryborough, Chemist Warehouse in Gladstone, BCF in Hervey Bay, as well as personal effects from a woman in Gympie.

The court heard Dempsey had entered one of the businesses where CCTV footage had captured him taking a number of items.

He had also taken boots, the court heard, before leaving without paying for the items.

The court heard Dempsey had since gone back to the business and paid the restitution amount.

In relation to the Fresh & Save matter, he had stolen $74.77 in grocery items, the court heard.

Dempsey had also paid restitution for that as well.

In relation to stealing from Chemist Warehouse, the court heard Dempsey had taken someone else’s script without paying for it.

The value amounted to $19.99 and Dempsey had also returned to the business and repaid that amount, the court heard.

In another matter, Dempsey had gone to Big W in Gladstone to buy a projector.

Maryborough Courthouse. Photo: Valerie Horton/ Fraser Coast Chronicle.

He had been under the assumption the other person had paid for the item, the court heard.

Dempsey had returned the item to Big W, the court was told.

In relation to the incident at Bunnings in Hervey Bay, Dempsey had attempted to take a large box of silicone sealer.

The offending had been captured on CCTV and he had later returned the box to the business, the court heard.

Dempsey had also been captured on CCTV stealing $69.99 worth of items from BCF, which he had later repaid.

In addition the court heard Dempsey had taken items from a suitcase from the open rear tray off a vehicle, including $300.

Police obtained CCTV footage that captured him taking those items, the court was told.

Restitution was sought for $2799 for that matter, the court heard.

Dempsey had been on medication for ADHD that had led to some instability at the time, the court was told, which was blamed for the incidents.

Magistrate John Milburn said it was in Dempsey’s favour that he had repaid much of what was owed, but there had been persistence to his offending.

Dempsey said he’d had tough couple of years where he had taken on extra work he should have and had been “here there and everywhere with my medication, which I regret now”.

Mr Milburn said Dempsey was contributing to the community and he would take that into account.

He fined Dempsey $1800 and no convictions were recorded.

Dempsey was ordered to pay $2799 in restitution.

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Originally published as Simon Peter Dempsey pleaded guilty to stealing