A recidivist thief threw tennis balls at the manager of a sporting goods store after he was locked inside to stop him fleeing with stolen items, a court was told.
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Mathew Howarth, 22, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court to six charges, including shop theft and assault.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Sandra Skilton said Howarth was a recidivist thief who was causing issues with local shop owners and appeared in court on a weekly basis.
On April 14, Howarth went to Rebel Sport on Warrnambool's Raglan Parade about 10.30am.
He was observed on CCTV footage taking 10 T-shirts worth $397 and leaving the premises without paying.
Then on April 16, Howarth returned to the sports store at 4.50pm and picked up another eight T-shirts worth $389.
He was identified by the manager who locked the front door, preventing him from leaving.
Howarth became upset and began throwing tennis balls at the manager.
The court heard there were customers in the store, including a couple who hid in the changerooms in fear.
Howarth then walked into the staff room and began spraying a can of air freshener toward the manager.
Police were called and he was subsequently arrested.
Magistrate Timothy Bourke said Howarth showed no remorse for his offending and had an extensive criminal history that included several shop thefts throughout Warrnambool.
"It looks like it has just been jail, release, jail, release," he said.
"But this incident appears to be more aggressive than past offending."
Howarth was jailed for one month.
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