Richard Kaddour: Man banned from every Bunnings sentenced for stealing

A Queensland builder who was banned from every Bunnings store has faced sentence after wheeling hundreds of dollars’ worth of stolen goods out of the business in a trolley.

A Queensland builder who was banned from every Bunnings store has faced sentence after wheeling hundreds of dollars’ worth of stolen goods out of the business in a trolley, a court has heard.

Richard Kaddour, 48, appeared in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to trespassing and stealing from Bunnings Springfield Central on February 19, 2019.

The court heard the father-of-two stole four lead rolls worth a total of $794 from the hardware company, hiding them in a trolley beneath bags of potting mix he paid for in cash and wheeling them out of the business.

He was caught on camera, wearing a Hi Vis shirt and a bucket hat, unloading the stolen goods into his car and driving away from the scene.

The court heard police served the Carina man a ban notice from all Bunnings stores more than a year prior to the incident, in November 2017.

Richard Kaddour leaving Ipswich Magistrates Court on Thursday.

On April 10, 2019, after identifying Kaddour as the thief captured on CCTV footage, police interviewed him and told him he would have to appear in court.

The matter was ongoing for more than two years, with Kaddour’s pleas of guilty not regarded by prosecution as early “by any stretch of the imagination”.

Defence lawyer Mr McDougall said his client grew up in Brisbane and was now married and a father of two adult children.

He said Kaddour suffered a number of mental health issues since he began experimenting with drugs at 28 years old.

Magistrate Dennis Kinsella acknowledged Kaddour owned and operated his own business, saying his gainful employment indicated he was capable of getting his life “back on track”.

“It’s important that you put all this to bed now,” Mr Kinsella told Kaddour.

“You’ve got to just draw the line in the sand now and make sure it’s all done and dusted.”

Mr Kinsella told Kaddour he had his sympathy.

Kaddour was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for each of the two charges – both to be served concurrently, but immediately suspended.

He was also ordered to pay Bunnings compensation of $794 within the month.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Richard Kaddour: Man banned from every Bunnings sentenced for stealing