Isaac Schlecht pleads guilty to stealing from Northern Beaches Liquorland

A Rural View plasterer exploited the kindness of staff at his local bottle shop, claiming to have a bad back while stashing litres of alcohol as a shop attendant carried his carton of beer.

A Rural View plasterer stole more than 10 litres of alcohol from his local bottle shop, exploiting the kindness of staff to do it.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard Isaac Schlecht’s latest thieving spree began on January 10, when he entered Northern Beaches Liquorland about 7pm.

The father told the shop attendant he had a bad back, and asked them if they could fetch a carton of beer for him from out the back.

While the attendant was gone, Schlecht picked up a $19 six pack of Mountain Goat Lager and a $68 bottle of Kraken rum and stuffed them into his shopping bag and left without paying for them.

Schlecht returned to the Northern Beaches Liquorland, stealing from it four times in less than six days. Picture: Lillian Watkins

About one month later, Schlecht returned to the same store, stealing from it four times in less than six days.

The court heard for this spate of theft, Schlecht had one particular alcohol in mind, a $12 cask of Renmano port.

On February 8 at 9.30am, Schlecht walked into Liquorland and picked up a cask of the port and hid it in his bag before picking up a second box and taking it to the counter.

With the first cask concealed in his bag, Schlecht told the attendant he had forgotten his wallet and left the store.

On February 10 at 6pm, Schlecht returned to the store and managed to take another cask of Renmano under the guise he had forgotten his wallet.

Isaac Schlecht pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court on April 7 to stealing. Picture: Lillian Watkins

The plasterer repeated this another two times on February 12 and 13, with a shop attendant spotting him on his last attempt.

The court heard Schlecht was also found in Airlie Beach on February 4 using a driver’s licence he knew to be misleading to scan into a licensed premises.

He pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court on April 7 to using a driver’s licence he knew to be misleading and five counts of stealing.

Schlecht’s lawyer on the day Rosemary Varley told the court her client had no excuse for his stealing.

“My client instructs it was stupidity, he was foolish,” Ms Varley said.

She said her client had been going through a break-up after February 4 but he acknowledged it was no excuse for his actions.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer told Schlecht he had a “lucky break” with police not adding the additional charge for “stealing after previous conviction”.

Mr Dwyer fined Schlecht $1000 and ordered to pay $135 restitution with convictions recorded.

“You can buy a real nice for port for $1000, Mr Schlecht,” Mr Dwyer said.

Originally published as Isaac Schlecht pleads guilty to stealing from Northern Beaches Liquorland