Colin Greenan spent six months stealing stuff from a McNabb Street convenience store.
His sweet-tooth shoplifting spree was detailed in a Sault Ste. Marie courtroom last week when he pleaded guilty to 23 charges.
Greenan, 42, was convicted of offences including theft, fraud, breaches of court orders and failure to attend court, that occurred between January and June of this year.
Ontario Court Justice Heather Mendes heard he stole snacks from the Circle K at 381 McNabb St. on six occasions. He breached court orders prohibiting him from going to the business 10 times.
Greenan also admitted violating probation conditions to keep the peace and be on good behaviour and failing to report to his probation officer.
As well, he was convicted of counts of fraud and using a debit card obtained by theft. The cops were contacted on Jan. 25 about a male shoplifter who was a frequent unwanted visitor to the store, the court heard.
He made off with chocolate milk, ice cream, pop and Pokemon cards, valued at $170 to $190, prosecutor Adrianna Mucciarelli said.
Police were called on Feb. 5 because Greenan had showed up there again and left without paying for items.
On March 19, a woman reported she had dropped her debit card near Second Hand World on Tancred Street. When she contacted her bank, she found it had been used at three businesses, the assistant Crown attorney said.
On June 17, Greenan was caught on camera at the Circle K walking out of the store without paying for seven ice cream bars, with a total price tag of $30.
A city police officer, working on bail compliance, connected the accused to two other thefts.
The store manager recognized his face mask, two black hoodies and two hats he was wearing during a June 7 incident where he stole ice cream and chocolate bars, valued at $107.
The following day, he returned to the store, where he was well known to the staff, and was wearing the same outfit, Mucciarelli told the court.
Greenan was aggressive, and made off with chocolate milk and Pokemon cards, valued at $207.
Guess where he was one week later – back at the same store, where he pilfered $35 worth of chocolate milk and candy bars.
The Crown and defence lawyer Ken Walker jointly recommended a seven-month jail term, less credit for his pre-sentence custody, plus two years probation.
Greenan has a criminal record with numerous convictions for related offences, including theft, failing to attend court and not following court orders, Mucciarelli said.
She pointed to the impact his actions have had on the Circle K store.
"Many businesses in the community are plagued by shoplifters," the assistant Crown attorney told Mendes.
This may look like a simple theft of chocolate bars, ice cream bars and Pokemon cards, she said.
"The store is owned by a local member of the community, a merchant trying to make a living" and an individual like Greenan steals from him.
He was aggressive to vulnerable employees and came into the business wearing a mask and hoodies. As well, he had two court orders requiring him to stay away from that variety store.
The Crown noted his guilty pleas indicate remorse and dealt with 11 files before the court.
Walker said his client's "biggest issue" is substance abuse. He's had a drug habit for at least 15 years and has been addicted to fentanyl for five years.
"No thought went into this."
In many cases, he was under the the influence of substances and was just taking ice cream.
"I'm really sorry for the things I've done," Greenan told the judge. "I have no excuses."
When she imposed sentence, Mendes cited his criminal record, the repeated offences committed in a short period of time and his targeting of a specific business as the "most aggravating factors."
His guilty pleas indicate remorse and saved the court trial time, she said, accepting the lawyers' position of seven months jail and two years probation.
With the enhanced credit of 1.5 days for each day he has spent in pre-sentence custody – the equivalent of 201 days – he faced a further nine days behind bars.
During his probation, he must take substance abuse counselling, must not go to that Circle K and must remain 25 metres away from the store manager, as well as the woman whose debit card he stole.
Greenan must also pay her $58 restitution and can't possess any debit or credit card not legally issued in his name.
Mendes ordered him to provide a DNA sample for the national registry.