Published October 2025
Shoplifting charge Perth – stealing prosecution discontinued
Perrella Legal successfully defended an engineer facing a shoplifting charge in Perth after he was accused of failing to pay for approximately $300 worth of groceries at a Coles self-service checkout.
Our client maintained that he had a defence to the allegation and was deeply concerned about the consequences of a criminal conviction for his professional and personal reputation.
Following a review of the prosecution evidence, we advised him to plead not guilty. Shortly before trial, we made submissions seeking discontinuance of the charge. The prosecution accepted those submissions and discontinued the proceedings.
Shoplifting charge Perth – Coles self-checkout allegation
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.