Bottle shop thief left feeling bitter

A MAN of no fixed address wanted on a warrant for stealing a carton of beer from the Commercial Hotel bottle shop earlier this year was arrested on Tuesday after he returned to the region to steal more alcohol.

Miles Morrell Rowe, 32, appeared in police custody in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on Wednesday and made no application for bail.

Defence counsel for the man said he had no address in the jurisdiction that would be suitable for bail, therefore no application could be made.

Rowe faced three charges of theft and two charges of giving false details to police.

The first charge of theft related to June 27 when Rowe stole a carton of XXXX Gold beer from the Commercial Hotel bottle shop.

It is believed the defendant then absconded to Victoria where he committed further offences leading to a two month jail term.

After recently completing the prison sentence in Victoria, Rowe returned to Mount Gambier where he committed two more thefts on Tuesday.

The defendant stole cigarettes from a service station before stealing 12 bottles of Melbourne Bitter from the Mount Gambier Hotel bottle shop.

He was tracked down a short time later and arrested by police.

When questioned by officers, he gave false details about his identity.

Rowe faced another charge of giving false details to police, which related back to 2009 when he was questioned over causing a traffic hazard as a pedestrian.

Magistrate Teresa Anderson adjourned all the matters until November 7 to allow the defence counsel time to obtain further instructions.