Wagin shoplifter Edward James Williams jailed after tap-and-go blitz across region

A “prolific” shoplifter who went on a tap-and-go spending spree in Wagin, Narrogin and Pingelly has been sentenced to 15 months behind bars and ordered to pay more than $2500. Edward James Williams, 36, was sentenced in Albany Magistrate’s Court on Thursday via video link from prison, appearing on 34 charges including gains benefit by fraud, stealing, burglary, trespassing and common assault. Police prosecutor Sergeant Dave Loverock told the court Williams’ fraud offences started about 10.30am on November 17, at Wagin’s Palace Hotel after he took a bank card from Foodworks on Travistock Street. Williams was charged for using the card 13 times, spending $1180.77 over two days to buy food and alcohol across Wagin, Narrogin, Pingelly and Highbury. He used the stolen card to pay for items at several businesses including Narrogin’s Duke of York Hotel, Wagin Meats, Chicken Treat Narrogin and the Pingelly Cafe. Also on November 17, Williams walked out of Target Country in Narrogin with a frame pool, making no attempt to pay for the item. The court was told the fraud offences followed a spate of shoplifting from IGA Xpress Wagin. He was handed a permanent ban from the store on August 25, but continued to trespass and stole from the store on November 8. He entered the store again on January 16 this year and was arrested on January 19. Williams also pleaded guilty to one charge of common assault in Wagin. His defence lawyer, Michelle Huber, told the court most of Williams’ offences happened while he was living on the streets and taking drugs. He had expressed a desire to attend rehabilitation when he was released from custody. Magistrate Dianne Scaddan said small country stores took the brunt of tap-and-go offences because they were often the only store of their kind in town. Ms Scaddan said the courts needed to show support for country businesses. Ms Scaddan said on top of the fraud offences, Williams was a “prolific” shoplifter whose offences had a “significant impact on the town”. She said prison was appropriate as Williams had shown a “fairly consistent disregard for the law”.