Daniel Charles Dowsett pleads guilty to supermarket break ins, wilful damage

A renowned meat destroyer who caused havoc at Sunshine Coast supermarkets has sparked up his sense of social justice again after breaking into a local grocery store twice in a matter of hours.

A Sippy Downs man has been handed jail for his bizarre sense of “activism” where he broke into supermarkets and damaged meat.

Daniel Charles Dowsett’s wayward activism was heard in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday after the 31-year-old pleaded guilty to 12 charges including three counts of wilful damage and two of entering a premises and committing an indictable offence by break.

Police prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris said the latter charges were the most serious recent charges on his rap sheet, and asked for him to serve at least six months of an 18 month jail term.

Sergeant Grigoris said Dowsett broke into Coles Mooloolaba on October 11 last year about 12.30am before being arrested.

He was granted bail, but returned to the store just hours later to break in at 4.30am.

The court heard he was arrested by police inside the store after smashing a glass door to gain entry. He repeated this on his second visit.

Sergeant Grigoris said Dowsett was given watch-house bail prior to this on October 1 last year and breached it the following day, before committing further offences on October 4 and 6.

Dowsett being arrested during his meat destroying spree in 2023. Picture: Contributed

The police prosecutor said the amount of loss suffered from his offending was in the ballpark of $10,000, which included the 31-year-old damaging security cameras at Kawana Shoppingworld costing $3750.

His wilful damage at Coles Kawana Waters on September 7 last year cost them $900 partnered with the two break ins at Coles Mooloolaba which led to broken glass windows, however there were no quotes before the court.

Sergeant Grigoris claimed the damage for that would be at least $2000. The court heard he also smashed a glass door at Corrective Services, also costing about $2000.

The court heard Dowsett was jailed for similar offending in 2023 after he destroyed thousands of dollars worth of meat products at various Sunshine Coast supermarkets.

Footage of his arrest at a local supermarket made its way onto social media where officers apprehended him following his meat rage.

He has spent three and a half months’ in custody or 111 days since his arrest before appearing in court on Wednesday by video from prison.

Defence solicitor Bree-Anna Bowtell said the 31-year-old, who had a Bachelor of Science, had an interest in computer programming which he hoped to explore once he was released from custody.

He appeared in court by video from prison. Picture: David Clark

In discussions with Dowsett, Ms Bowtell said he essentially wanted to “live off grid” and leave as little footprint as possible in order to pursue a sustainable life.

Ms Bowtell said the Sippy Downs man had an element of “activism” in his offending by pouring milk over meat products.

She told the court he accepted activism must occur in a way which caused a small cost to society to achieve his goals.

In handing down his sentence, magistrate Rod Madsen said it was “quite bizarre” he was offending by continually “doing the same thing”.

Mr Madsen called Dowsett’s decision to return to Coles Mooloolaba after being arrested there only hours earlier “incomprehensible”.

The court heard even though Dowsett caused more than $10,000 in damages to the business, no restitution would be ordered as the 31-year-old had no capacity to pay it.

He was instead jailed for 18 months but will be released onto parole on March 11.

Originally published as Daniel Charles Dowsett pleads guilty to supermarket break ins, wilful damage