McKenzie Scott Ross Miller sentenced in Toowoomba Magistrates Court over drunken pharmacy antics

A notorious Toowoomba thief was arrested after he drunkenly caused a ruckus in a pharmacy where he rubbed a man’s stomach after asking him to ‘come here daddy’.

A notorious Toowoomba thief, McKenzie Scott Ross Miller, was arrested after he drunkenly kicked off in a pharmacy where he rubbed a man’s stomach after asking him to “come here daddy”.

A sticky-fingered man has been dubbed a menace to Toowoomba’s business community after he repeatedly stole from a number of stores to fund his alcoholism.

When McKenzie Scott Ross Miller pleaded guilty to more than 30 stealing charges before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday, the court was told he stole items ranging from a $10 pasta salad to a $900 chainsaw.

Miller also pleaded guilty to bail breaches, unlawful entries, public nuisance and a “bizarre” common assault charge which occurred at a Toowoomba pharmacy and involved him touching a man after calling him “daddy”.

The court was told the Tamworth-born man moved to Toowoomba years ago in an attempt to get sober after attending the Team Challenge program, and had been homeless after his grandmother kicked him out.

A notorious Toowoomba thief McKenzie Scott Ross Miller, was arrested after he drunkenly kicked off in a pharmacy where he rubbed a man’s stomach after asking him to “come here daddy”.

Solicitor Alysha Jacobsen said Miller had never been in jail before and the 26 days he spent on remand had been sobering in more ways than one.

Miller instructed Ms Jacobsen that he was determined to stay sober and planned to get back to working as a truck driver.

“He is very remorseful but he doesn’t remember (the assault) occurring… but he’s certainly accepting of it,” she said.

Magistrate Mark Howden said Miller’s behaviour was “fairly bizarre” and it was clear his alcoholism contributed to his offending.

“He’s in Good Price Pharmacy yelling random gibberish at other customers, knocking things off the shelf, and then he says to the victim ‘come here daddy’ and then proceeds to grope the victim’s stomach and navel area,” he said.

Mr Howden told Miller he was a menace to local businesses.

“You get drunk, you go in there, particularly places such as Bunnings and First Choice, you steal their things (and) they know who you are,” he said.

“Then you... seek cash for those items. You then go and purchase more alcohol. You’ve been doing this for some time.”

He noted the day after Miller was sentenced to a seven month probation order in October for similar offending, he was caught stealing.

“It hasn’t stopped you, you just continue to do it,” he said.

“What’s eventually happened and pains me to say it, from a health prospective… the best thing that could have happened to you, you’ve gone into custody… and you’re now sober.”

He warned Miller if he returned to the same behaviour upon his release, the courts would have no option but to impose jail terms.

Mr Howden declared the 26 days Miller spent in pre-sentence custody as time served and sentenced him to a two-year probation order.

“The ball is really in your court,” he said.

Miller was also ordered to complete 40 hours of community service.