other shops.

John Lyle Vardanega, 38 appeared last week in Bathurst Court House pleading guilty to four charges.

Solicitor Michael Dalla entered guilty pleas to shoplifting and goods in custody charges that police laid against Vardanega of Summer Street, Orange over the goods found hidden in a garbage bag in his

parked car.

Mr Dalla also pleaded guilty on his client’s behalf to assault of a police officer he bit on the finger and resisting police who assisted a security guard who tackled Vardanega to the floor as he ran from the store about 4pm on Saturday, August 2.

A charge against Vardanega of escaping from custody was withdrawn by police, after guilty pleas were entered to other more serious matters.

Magistrate Thomas Hodgson convicted Vardanega without imposing a sentence ordering him to enter a good behaviour bond for 12 months on all four charges.

Vardanega was arrested for shoplifting from Big W when he stopped to pay $2.78 for a two litre container of juice. He had stuffed fishing lures and a birthday card into the pocket of his jacket and not offered to pay for them at the checkout.

A statement of facts detailed how Vardanega tried to run away but was tackled to the floor of the shopping centre. He had locked arms refusing to budge for police and he bit a constable’s index finger.

Police related searching Vardanega’s car in the parking area finding 61 items hidden in a garbage bag.

Vardanega had produced a receipt from Go Lo for a five pack of tissues.

But he had another 16 items from Go Lo police suspected he stole at the time he bought the tissues as a “decoy”.

Another 46 items had also been found by police for which Vardanega could produce no receipts.

The goods police discovered in the car ranged between $800-$1000 in value, some suspected of having been stolen from Go Lo and Harvey Norman.