He walked in, grabbed some food off the shelves and asked for some cigarettes.

Collis then pulled out the ANZ card and tapped it on the EFTPOS machine at the counter. Twice.

One was for the cigarettes, the other for the food.

He then turned and left, carrying $76.89 in goods he had effectively stolen.

But the unemployed 26-year-old was oblivious to the trail he left behind.

Firstly, his visit was captured on CCTV cameras in the store, which when matched with receipts proved that he had committed the crimes.

MORE COURT STORIES

Collis didn’t even try going elsewhere on the next occasion, when he did exactly the same thing.

He simply returned to the BP.

The Albury man was to have been sentenced when he appeared in Albury Local Court this week.

But magistrate Rodney Brender was told that Collis suffered mental health issues.

This was an important factor in his sentencing, his lawyer said, but the trouble was that he could not yet get in to see a doctor in order for both his treatment and to provide evidence of that to the court.

The earliest appointment he could secure was for February 7.

“I’ll get a duty report,” Mr Brender said in agreeing to adjourn the sentencing to February 11.

Collis pleaded guilty to four counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception and to one of custody of a knife in a public place.

The court was told how the victim’s wallet, containing the card, was stolen on September 21.

Collis later found the card in the street.

At 5.28am the next day, Collis went to the service station and bought the cigarettes and food.

He used the card again the following day at 12.01am for the same purchases, this time totaling $85.98.

“I got no money,” was his excuse to police.

When searched by police in Stanley Street, Albury, on October 6 about 5.30pm, Collis was carrying two knives and a small, silver tomahawk.

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