Dealing in meat puts drug user in ‘cooler’

KIM WATERS
A JUNKIE who stole and sold almost $300 of meat while on bail will return to prison, a magistrate ruled this week.
Matthew Whitehouse, 36, of Colac, fronted Geelong Magistrates Court on charges of theft, obtaining financial advantage by deception and handling stolen goods.
Police Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Scott Bell said Whitehouse stole two packets of chicken breasts and four packets of lamb cutlets from an ALDI store in Colac on January 26.
Sen Const Bell said Whitehouse concealed the $58.99 worth of meat under his T-shirt and distracted the cashier before walking out of the store.
Whitehouse then went to a nearby Target store where he stole four bottles of deodorant and a decorative Jack Daniels stein, the court heard.
Sen Const Bell said Whitehouse was observed on security camera footage stealing meat from a Colac Safeway in May.
Whitehouse stole $80 of meat from the supermarket in three separate thefts, the court heard.
Whitehouse admitted to police he sold the meat to an “unknown person” for $120, Sen Const Bell said.
“The reason he gave police was that he was not travelling well at the time.”
Lawyer Shane Balkin, for Whitehouse, said his client had a history of drug abuse and recently spent time in prison.
“There’s what seems to be some degree of sincerity on his part…in dealing with his drug addiction,” Mr Balkin told the court.
Magistrate Ron Saines said Whitehouse’s offending was a “fully intentional” and premeditated.
“(This) was a few weeks after your release from prison similar offences,” Mr Saines told Whitehouse.
“These were all committed while on bail. The sale of goods you had stolen…underlines the criminal methodology here.”
Mr Saines convicted Whitehouse and sentenced him to six months jail and gave him a further three-month suspended sentence.