An appeals court has upheld a decision to imprison a serial thief for four years following a spate of offences across the western suburbs.
Bradley Berry, 35, appealed the sentence after pleading guilty to 58 individual charges, including theft, attempted armed robbery and aggravated assault committed over a 47-day period between June 11 and July 27 last year.
In May this year, the County Court heard that Berry and a co-accused stole purses, handbags and mobile phones from female shoppers and shop assistants at shopping centres in Hoppers Crossing, Altona Meadows, Wyndham Village, Point Cook, Maribyrnong, Caroline Springs, Manor Lakes and Werribee.
The thefts often involved Berry distracting female shoppers who had their handbags in their trolleys while his co-accused stole them.
On November 19, the Supreme Court heard that Berry used a stolen credit card to purchase $3028.20 worth of goods from supermarkets in the western suburbs, including $238.18 in Sydenham, $659.37 in Taylors Lakes, $209 in Braybrook and $1047.91 across Werribee and Hoppers Crossing.
The spree ended on July 27 when the pair attempted to steal a mobile phone from a retail employee at Westfield shopping centre in Geelong, but were identified by security staff based on previous offending.
The court heard that when approached by security, Berry produced a large hunting knife from his tracksuit pants, swinging it at them before running off.
Berry was apprehended by police after unsucessfully trying to carjack three cars.
“The ground of appeal is not reasonably arguable and leave to appeal should be refused,” Justice Paul Coghlan said.
Berry had been released from a 12-month prison sentence shortly before committing last year’s crimes.
