A man found guilty of a spate of thefts across the western suburbs has been sentenced to two-and-a-half months’ jail and placed on a four-year corrections order.
At the County Court earlier this month, Joseph Tufuga, 24, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft, one charge of armed robbery and two of possessing a drug of dependence.
Tufuga was sentenced to 73 days’ jail, which he has already served. He was also placed on a four-year corrections order and fined $1100.
The court heard Tufuga stole three NBA jerseys valued at $360 from Rebel Sports in Highpoint on July 5, 2015, when his offence was captured on CCTV.
A week later, on July 13, he entered a 7-Eleven in Point Cook wearing a mask, jumped the counter through the security wires, held a pair of scissors to the salesperson’s neck and demanded money, getting away with $500 in cash and about 50 packets of cigarettes.
He was arrested on August 10 when CCTV at Myer in Highpoint caught him removing two boxes of underwear then taking the underwear out of its packaging and stuffing it down his pants.
Tufuga was followed out of the store by Myer staff and escorted to an office, where police were called.
Police found a small amount of cannabis and buprenorphine on him, and he was arrested.
Good prospects
In sentencing Tufuga, Judge James Parrish said he considered his rehabilitation prospects to be reasonable.
Judge Parrish noted that Tufuga was homeless after a relationship breakdown and was using ice when the offences were committed, but he had since made genuine attempts to get his life back on track.
“It appears that since your bail, you have made attempts, and good attempts, to turn your life around and you are lucky you have the support seemingly of a very committed family and the prospects of going back to work.”
