After violating a packet of Tim Tams by throwing them over supermarket shelves, a Sydney man stood next to Woolworths customers and urinated over hundreds of dollars worth of meat.
Lachlan Ebejer, also known as Lochlan James Ebejer, was already known to the supermarket, having copped a six-month ban from stores across the nation after being caught shoplifting at Toongabbie, in Sydney’s west, on June 13.
Weeks later, the 22-year-old was back at Woolworths in Sydney’s Town Hall for further misconduct.
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According to court documents, Ebejer entered the city-centre store just before midnight on July 1 and threw a packet of chewy caramel Tim Tam biscuits from one aisle to another.
He then went down an escalator to the raw meat section where, while standing next to four customers, he urinated for 28 seconds over two shelves of products.
After security was alerted, Woolworths staff were forced to cordon off the area, removing $311 worth of meat and spending eight hours cleaning and disinfecting.
Ebejer immediately left the store and was located by police after images and CCTV footage were released to the media and the public.
“Police are alleging as a result of the accused’s actions and the contamination of the meat products it has caused public alarm,” agreed facts filed in court said.
“The actions of the accused are likely to cause economic loss to Woolworths supermarkets whereby customers may have concerns as to the integrity of meat products being purchased.”
Ebejer had an extensive criminal history, the documents said.
The Sadleir man has pleaded guilty to one count of contaminating goods with intent to cause public alarm and also to unlawful entry on inclosed lands.
A third count of offensive conduct while on enclosed land was withdrawn by police prosecutors at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Friday.
Legal Aid lawyer Liam McKibbin said his client wanted a mental health report completed ahead of sentencing on October 21.
McKibbin told Magistrate Margaret Quinn that Ebejer had been diagnosed with a number of mental-health conditions, the most prominent being schizophrenia.
He will have to wait in remand ahead of his sentence after his bail was revoked on August 20.