TWO homeless men appeared in Mandurah Magistrates Court today on separate stealing offences.
Ross Jay Radford pleaded guilty to six counts of stealing.
The court heard Radford stole fuel to the value of $335.39 from two Woolworths fuel stations and a Caltex in Mandurah, a Coles fuel station in Halls Head, a Puma at Tarcoola Beach near Geraldton and a station in Busselton.
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READ NOWAt no point did he make an attempt to pay.
A court-appointed lawyer said Radford accepted the facts and stole out of desperation.
He lost his job six months ago and was living in his car with his partner.
Magistrate Anne Longden said the incidents took place during a difficult time in Radford’s life and fined him $200 fine.
He was ordered to pay for the fuel.
Jacob Sparke pleaded guilty to three counts of stealing.
The court heard he entered First Choice Liquor and Dan Murphy’s; and stole cans of Jack Daniels worth $198.
A court-appointed lawyer said Sparke had fallen on hard times.
He had been living in his car for the past few months and sells the alcohol for money.
This was the second time Sparke had appeared before Magistrate Longden, but she said due to his struggle with mental health she wouldn’t add to his burden.
Magistrate Longden said she knew Sparke was struggling financially.
“But you have to be punished somehow,” she said.
She fined him $100 and was ordered to repay the amounts.
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