Michael Peter Gordon, 42, of Shepparton, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to multiple counts of theft.
Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Anna Hanlon told the court that Gordon stole items from Kmart in Shepparton on August 26, 2024.
The court heard he then went to a nearby business and gave the staff there multiple items with the tags still on them.
Two hours later he went back into Kmart, where he was arrested.
The other stolen items were found in his backpack.
In a separate incident, he stole $22.15 worth of items from SPC Factory Sales in Vaughan St on October 1, 2024.
The following day, he stole $135.40 worth of items from Coles supermarket in Vaughan St, including a 12-pack of Pepsi, cranberry juice and other grocery items.
Half an hour later, he stole a life jacket worth $260 from Auski in High St.
When arrested by police, he was not interviewed because police believed he would not comprehend the interview.
In yet another incident, Gordon stole lemonade, an Up and Go, a Big M and Cheetos chips, worth just over $21, from Pearl Energy service station in Wyndham St, Shepparton on December 3, 2024.
Police saw a service station worker chase Gordon as he ran into an alley next door, and arrested him.
Gordon was also found with a bag of cannabis in his pocket after police were called to reports of people causing trouble in the Newton St and Balaclava Rd area on July 20, 2024.
He told police at the time he “does not smoke it” and that “I picked the bloody thing up”, Leading Sen Constable Hanlon said.
Gordon’s solicitor, Shana McDonald, told the court her client was disadvantaged and had significant mental health issues.
She also said he did not have a fixed address, and the offending was “low level and consistent with his personal circumstances”.
Ms McDonald said her client was not a good candidate for a community corrections order, and instead asked for a good behaviour bond.
However, magistrate Simon Zebrowski disagreed, saying a bond was “just a waste of time” because he couldn’t comply with one.
Instead, Gordon was sentenced to 14 days in prison, meaning he spent Christmas Day behind bars.
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