A chicken kebab thief who instigated a police chase, which involved an officer being bitten by a dog so badly surgery was required to repair his arm, has been sent to prison.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The saga started when Paul Muldoon, of Macquarie Street, tried to steal tim tams, coke and kebabs from Woolworths on the morning of April 29.
He was previously banned from entering all Woolies stores because of his "relentless shoplifting", police said in documents presented to Dubbo Local Court last Wednesday.
A staff member saw Muldoon with the items and confronted him.
"I'll have what you've got please Paul," she politely said to the 45-year-old.
Muldoon handed her the drink and chocolates, but not the kebabs, which police said were visible underneath his shirt.
You have got my meat, it's under your shirt
- Woolworths staff member
"I'll have the meat as well thanks," the staff member said.
Muldoon said he didn't have any meat and the staff member responded by saying "you have got my meat, it's under your shirt".
Muldoon denied this again and walked out of the shop.
READ ALSO: Dubbo sets weather record during April
The staff member reported the incident to police and they went to Muldoon's place of residence the on April 30.
Muldoon was sighted but not spoken to because he ran away.
On May 1 police went back to Muldoon's Macquarie Street residence and saw him hiding in bushes.
He ran away again, when police tried to speak to him.
Police chased Muldoon and during the pursuit an officer was bitten by a vicious dog so severely he required surgery to reattach severed tendons to his arm.
Muldoon was eventually captured and taken into police custody.
He appeared before Magistrate Theresa Hamilton in Dubbo Local Court in the afternoon of May 1.
You've been given every opportunity to avoid custody
- Magistrate Theresa Hamilton
Muldoon pleaded guilty to charges of larceny and unlawfully entering inclosed land.
Muldoon's legal representative acknowledged his client's "atrocious record", which police said included a staggering 96 previous charges.
Details of the chase and dog attack needed to be ignored when considering sentencing options [because larceny and unlawful entry were the only two charges Muldoon appeared before the court in relation to], the legal representative said.
"You've been given every opportunity to avoid custody [in the past]," Magistrate Hamilton told Muldoon before she found him guilty of both charges.
He was sentenced to three months in prison for stealing the kebabs and no penalty was issued for unlawfully entering Woolworths.
Muldoon is eligible for parole on July 31.
