Our client engaged our services in a state of utter despair and stress after being charged with an offence of stealing, after failing to pay for several items totalling approximately $300.00 at his local Coles self-service checkout station.
Coles personnel intercepted our client and the unpaid items were immediately returned. Our client had never been in trouble with the Police and he considered the charge to be antithetical to his values. When he came to us, he had not been sleeping properly and was consumed with thinking about the ramifications for him and his young family. As an engineer who was required to travel overseas for work, a conviction was going to pose a detriment to his future. After reviewing the material disclosed by investigating police, we formed the view that our client had a defence to the charge. He entered a plea of not guilty and the charge was listed for trial. Shortly before trial, we provided the prosecution with a submission to discontinue the charge, which was accepted, much to the relief of a client whose desired outcome was consistent with preserving his esteemed reputation in his family and community.
