Pie theft ends in two-month's jail

Not only was A$7 (NZ$8.60) not enough to buy two pies, but they cost J'Keith McDonald two months behind bars.

"That's a month per pie," Judge Julie Dick said as she sentenced him for demanding property with menace.

Crown prosecutor Alex Stark had told Maroochydore District Court that McDonald tried to convince a 32-year-old attendant at a 7-Eleven store in Noosa Heads to take his change or give him money for the two pies.

Stark said McDonald, who had been celebrating his 25th birthday, was captured going to and from the counter for about 16 minutes on closed circuit television.

Stark said the attendant would not comply so McDonald told him he had a gun and if he did not get his way he had "a gang that'll be coming."

He said the attendant closed the store's front doors and called police.

Barrister Phillip Rennick said his client's birthday was on April 2 and he was extremely drunk when the incident took place at 3am on April 3 this year.

"It's a silly act with dire consequences," he said. "The irony of it all ... he was searched at the watchhouse and had $20 on him so he could have paid for it."

Judge Dick sentenced McDonald, who had a criminal history including custodial sentences, to four months jail for his "foolish behaviour."

Because McDonald had already spent two months in custody on remand, Judge Dick suspended the sentence immediately.

She said the remaining two months would hang over his head for four months so he had better remain "squeaky clean."

"It's madness isn't it," she said.

"You were carrying on like a loser."

Judge Dick said "some people have a drink and they have brain snaps".

She told McDonald if that was him, he needed to decide if he could drink at all or learn when to stop.

- SUNSHINE COAST DAILY