A Wagga man has been jailed for a string of thefts that included stealing bank cards from a woman while she was helping a blind person at a supermarket.
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Bruce Victor Freeman, 46, of Tolland appeared via video link at Wagga Local Court on Monday where he was handed an aggregated sentence of 14 months’ jail with a non-parole period of eight months.
The sentence was given for three incidents of larceny that included a $1200 mountain bike and $1180 worth of items from one woman alone, as well as using one of the stolen bank cards to buy goods.
The items included alcohol, groceries, a mobile-phone item and Chinese takeaway – all in a single day.
The sentence also applied to Freeman failing to appear in court on February 2 this year.
As well, Freeman was ordered to undergo community corrections for escaping police custody, two incidents of possessing a prohibited drug and stealing a cap from a petrol station.
The offences occurred in central, Glenfield Park and Kooringal between April 2018 and February 2019.
Freeman pleaded guilty to a number of the charges and was convicted of the others.
In court on Monday, Magistrate Christopher Halburd said Freeman’s use of a stolen of bank card to buy goods stood out.
“The victim was facing away from the shopping trolley where the purse was located and she was distracted because she was assisting a blind person,” Mr Halburd said.
“While that was happening, Freeman took the wallet and proceeded to use one of the cards on six different occasions.
“Each one of those instances in which the card was used carries 10 years’ imprisonment if dealt with on indictment.
“In my view, that theft is quite a serious example of larceny.”
In sentencing, Mr Halburd considered Freeman’s guilty pleas and him not challenging guilty findings for other charges.
“Mr Freeman has had a difficult life,” Mr Halburd said.
“I accept that his father abused alcohol and that Mr Freeman was exposed to domestic violence towards his mum.
“Very sad for him and society.”
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