Booze burglary ‘lookout’ gets $1200 fine and compensation order

A Geraldton man who acted as a lookout while his underage mates broke into Queens Park Theatre and stole $400 worth of booze has been fined $1200 and ordered to pay compensation. Nicholas Alan Edward Mongoo, 20, was sentenced in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court on Monday after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary and stealing last month. Mongoo had faced a nervous three-week wait to find out whether he would be jailed for the January 19 break-in, during which three cartons of Jack Daniels bourbon and cola premixes were stolen. At the time of the burglary he was serving a suspended jail sentence for domestic violence-related offences. Magistrate Chris Miocevich last month warned Mongoo he might trigger the sentence, but conceded there were several mitigating factors including his willingness to dob in his co-offenders, his guilty pleas, and his young age. Mongoo’s bail was extended and he was told to save up $400 in the meantime. Last week, his lawyer told the court he had been unable to save the money. Mr Miocevich opted to let the suspended sentence, which has now nearly come to an end, continue. He instead fined Mongoo $1000 for the burglary and $200 for the stealing. Mongoo was also ordered to pay $118.50 in court costs, and to repay Queens Park Theatre for the stolen alcohol.