Aidan Douglas Stewart guilty on multiple stealing charges

A 31-year-old man with a 33-page criminal history and 155 previous convictions for stealing has appeared in the Cairns Magistrates Court over his latest bout of shoplifting.

A 31-year-old man a 33-page criminal history and 155 previous convictions for stealing received a prison sentence for his latest bout of shoplifting when he appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Appearing via videolink from prison, Aidan Douglas Stewart pleaded guilty to 12 charges of stealing, and two charges of trespassing.

Magistrate Cathy McLennan said business owners were doing it tough recovering from Covid-19 conditions without having goods continually stolen.

Magistrate Cathy McLennan said businesses in Cairns were already doing it tough without people stealing from shops. Picture: file photo

“You are a persistent recidivist offender with most extensive charges of theft, breach community service orders, breach probation, trespassing, public nuisance, and possessing dangerous drugs,” she said.

“A 33-page history, ultimately you are compiling a book.

“Quite frankly it is very difficult for businesses in Cairns to operate in the current financial climate, people are working seven days a week to make ends meet and pay the rent, and people like you steal off them.”

She noted Stewart was on bail for offences committed in January when he embarked on his stealing spree in early March.

The court heard he stole items from Ripcurl, Surf, Dive and Ski, Kmart, Victor Mellick’s, a Mobile petrol station, Woolworths Cairns, PJ O’Brien’s, Australia Post, a bottle shop, and attempted to steal a stereo and some T-shirts from JB Hi Fi.

A man was sentenced to 12 months in prison for a shoplifting spree that included stealing from a bottle shop. Picture: file photo

He was arrested on March 7 in possession of suspected stolen property.

“This is just over and over again,” Ms McClellan said.

The court heard he went into Victor Mellick’s, took two shirts to the change room, returned one to the counter, and shoved the other in his bag and made no attempt to pay for it.

It was a theft worth $349.45.

Magistrate McLennan gave Stuart a head sentence of 12 months for that offence and lesser sentences for the other charges, to be served concurrently.

The trespassing offences were because he visited stores he had been banned from.

Stuart is also serving three months for another offence, making his total prison time 15 months.

Magistrate McLennan declared the 11 days he had spent in custody as time already served.

Originally published as Aidan Douglas Stewart guilty on multiple stealing charges