Brad Rodwell faces Orange court for intimidation, stealing phone

Brad Rodwell, 22, of Matthews Avenue, had been refused bail and was in custody when he appeared in court.

According to police, Rodwell stole a mobile phone that was behind the counter at Loc Sing Restaurant in Summer Street on May 1. He was recognised when the victim provided police with CCTV footage of the theft.

Twelve days later, Rodwell entered Orange Central Square and went to the cigarette counter at Coles supermarket despite being banned from the store.

A female employee noticed him staring at her and recognised him but continued serving another customer. Rodwell asked her customer to buy him "smokes" but the customer refused.

After the customer left, Rodwell continued to stare at the employee making her feel uncomfortable. She told a male staff member that security had banned Rodwell from the shopping centre.

The male employee approached Rodwell who asked him, "have you ever shot a gun before?" and he said, "I want a smoke but I'm cancelled."

Rodwell continued to make both employees feel uncomfortable and police arrested him in the centre. Both employees still appeared to be affected and shaken by the encounter when police spoke to them.

Magistrate David Day said Rodwell's previous failure to engage with mental health treatment plans was "troubling".

He convicted Rodwell of stealing the phone and placed him on a two-year Community Correction Order and he ordered him to repay the victim $500 in compensation for the phone.

He gave Rodwell a two-year CCO with treatment provisions for intimidating the employees, he also convicted him without further penalty for unlawful entry.

Mr Day also resentenced Rodwell for breaching previous CCOs. They included a 12-month Intensive Correction Order for assaulting a police officer at Gilgandra in April, and a three-year CCO for possession of and attempting to use a stolen credit card in Katoomba.

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