TV theft scammer cops $2K penalty

A 26-YEAR-OLD man who had a penchant for walking out of department stores with large and expensive television sets without paying has been handed a $1000 fine and ordered to pay as much in compensation.

Jordan Kurt Fuller, 26, and a co-offender had gone to Woolworths Clifford Gardens on September 11, 2019, and selected a $999 television set still in its box, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

The pair carried the box to the self-serve counter, appeared to scan the item but walked out without paying, the court heard.

The pair was seen carrying the box through the car park where the remote control fell from the box and Fuller had picked it up before rejoining his co-offender with the box, police prosecutor Cameron Francis told the court.

Two days later, the pair had repeated the “modus operandi” at Woolworths Boondall, walking out of the store with a $1049 TV, he said.

Fuller’s co-accused had pleaded guilty and was sentenced on December 17, 2019, to four months in jail with immediate parole and ordered to pay half compensation, Mr Francis told Toowoomba Magistrate’s Court.

Fuller pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing.

Duty solicitor Ryan McCullough, of MacDonald Law, told the court his client at the time was going through some life difficulties.

After these incidents he had moved to Lismore with his brother and had stayed out of trouble, Mr McCullough said.

He moved back to Toowoomba about six weeks ago in search of work unaware police had been looking for him, Mr McCullough said.

Magistrate Graham Lee ordered the conviction not be recorded and fined Fuller $1000 and ordered he pay half compensation of $1022.