Geraldton man Joshua Adam Dawson sentenced to 12-month order over supermarket assault

A 32-year-old Geraldton man with a “terrible record” has been told by a magistrate he’s on his last chance after he pleaded guilty to 18 criminal charges.

Joshua Adam Dawson was sentenced to a 12-month intensive supervision order in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Thursday following the assault of a supermarket worker in June.

The court was told Dawson pushed the worker in the chest when confronted for stealing a pack of meat.

Police soon arrested the 34-year-old, who tried to run away from officers.

Magistrate Sandra De Maio said Dawson had a long list of drug and dishonesty offences.

“Now the assaults are creeping in,” she said.

Prosecuting Sen. Const. Dean Solman said Dawson used a stolen credit card to make more than $950 of fraudulent purchases on April 8.

Defence lawyer Tim Hampson said Dawson was homeless and determined to do the right thing after being assaulted in prison.

Dawson spent more than three months in custody following his June arrest.

Sen. Const. Solman accepted Dawson had treatment needs but questioned whether he would abide by a court order.

“A suspended term of imprisonment is more appropriate,” he said.

Ms De Maio said the supervision order was Dawson’s last chance to get his life in order.

“Unless you take what’s on offer you are going to dig your hole even deeper – so deep you won’t see the sunlight,” she said.