A man charged with shoplifting was told that with his criminal record, it's more offences that he "can't afford".
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Joseph Christopher Cowen, aged 47, of Mortimer Street, Mudgee, was sentenced to an 18-month Community Correction Order and ordered to pay compensation of $209 and $30 to the two businesses involved.
On March 26, 2019, Cowen took a small LCD television from a Mudgee electronics store by concealing it in his jacket and leaving. Then on March 31 he stole six beers from a local bottle-shop - again using his jacket - doing so within the store's cool room and exiting, even after being questioned by a staff member as he left.
Both incidents were captured on the respective businesses' CCTV footage. Furthermore, police noticed that during the latter offence Cowan's jacket appeared to have a bag inside in order to keep the cans from being visible and falling out.
Magistrate Alexander Mijovich told the defendant that with his history "you're in a position where you can't afford any more offences".
