A transient Dunedin man with a penchant for quaffing wine in supermarkets has been jailed again.
Mathew Thomas Robinson (48) appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after pleading guilty to three counts of shoplifting and one of assault with a weapon.
It was not the first time the defendant had been arrested for similar thefts.
In the midst of the first nationwide Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, he was released from prison with nowhere to live and immediately went on a stealing spree, which included soft drinks and wine.
Robinson told police it was the “most responsible” thing he could have done.
This time his motives were not aired in court but he was in a similar position, freshly released from prison.
First, Robinson visited Centre City New World on the morning of February 6 where he opened a $24 bottle of wine and began swigging from it.
He returned the bottle to the shelf but staff nipped the impromptu tasting session in the bud.
The defendant, yelling profanities as he went, was marched out by the manager.
However, Robinson’s thirst had not been quenched.
He returned less than four hours later and repeated his actions, this time choosing a vintage worth $22.
His actions had the same predictable result.
Robinson then made the short walk to Countdown Dunedin Central where he was ejected from there too for sculling wine.
The court heard he loitered in the car park before joining a queue to re-enter the store but a security officer on the door recognised him.
When he was told to leave, the defendant scattered some cones then threw one at the guard, hitting him in the chest.
Judge Jim Large said Robinson now had more than 40 theft convictions to his name and incarceration was the only alternative.
“It’s unfortunate you’re described as homeless but doesn’t in any way excuse your behaviour this day,” the judge said.
Robinson was jailed for six months.
“I’m sorry for what I did. Full stop,” he told the court.
