An alcohol-fuelled break and enter has seen a 25-year-old man with no prior record sentenced to community service.
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Bega Local Court on Tuesday, June 15, heard Jeremy McConnachie from Wolumla was caught on CCTV footage breaking into Merimbula McDonalds on April 25 and stealing a number of boxes of food before falling asleep in a nearby public toilet.
Although the court was told Ms McConnachie had no recollection of the events, he pleaded guilty given the security footage clearly showed it was him.
The police report stated Mr McConnachie was first caught on camera at 12.53am attempting to enter the premises through the front door. Unsuccessful, he tried to gain entry through the drive-thru window using a small branch.
He was then seen climbing an awning into the children's playground and entering through a closed but unlocked door.
It was reported that the defendant then poured himself a drink and searched the premises. After filling his pockets with sauces, he placed the cup back into the cup holder and entered the storeroom.
The court heard he took two boxes of chocolate fudge to the value of $100 and threw them back over the fence of the children's playground before leaving the premises.
However, police reported that by 1.29am he was back in the store and stealing a box of nugget sauces to the value of $50.
The police report stated that there were two off-duty staff members in the car park who heard a noise when the man climbed back over the fence.
The two employees called the police who arrived at the scene at 2.10am.
Police documents stated they found the man asleep in a public toilet cubicle. He was still reportedly heavily under the influence of alcohol when he was arrested.
In court on Tuesday Mr McConnachie's solicitor said he did not have a history of drinking and had no intention of doing so again.
Magistrate Dick said he acknowledged Mr McConnachie had no prior record, but made clear the seriousness of the crime.
"The court needs to send a message that if you're going to behave this way you're not going to get a pat on the back," Magistrate Dick said.
He said although the maximum sentence for the two break and enter charges could result in 14 years' jail time for each, Mr McConnachie was sentenced to a 12 month Intensive Corrections Order.
Mr McConnachie will need to serve 250 hours of community service under supervision, pay $1500 in fines, and attend a personal development course.
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