Wannabee retail worker Jacob Hogg accused of attacking staff at shopping mall

Jacob Hogg, 18, has been charged with one count of aggravated robbery. Photo: Michelle Kroll.

A young man with hopes of working in retail has been accused of stealing a pair of purple tracksuit pants from a shopping centre’s clothing store and hitting one of its workers in the face.

Court documents allege 18-year-old Jacob Hogg went into Cooleman Court Shopping Centre’s Best & Less store on 25 March 2022 with two others where they allegedly took a pair of tracksuit pants and left without paying.

A staff member found the trio outside and allegedly saw them with the pants, took them back and hung them back up in the store.

Mr Hogg is reported to have followed the staff member back into the store and tried to take more tracksuit pants while the staff member tried to stop them, resulting in pushing and shoving.

Another store worker said she saw the struggle, tried to help her colleague and pushed Mr Hogg from the store, but he allegedly walked up to her and hit her in the face.

A customer at the store told him to leave and he did, allegedly with one pair of tracksuit pants. He was later arrested and charged with aggravated robbery.

After spending three days in custody, Mr Hogg applied for bail in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday (28 March).

Legal Aid lawyer Stephanie MacGougan said he had only just turned 18 and didn’t currently have a job, but was looking for one and wanted to work in retail.

She also said he told her he was intoxicated at the time of the alleged offending.

Prosecutor Archita Sreekumar opposed bail, saying she was concerned that as the alleged violence happened in a public place against members of the public, bail conditions could not ameliorate the risks of him being released on bail.

Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker remarked there was a “strong prosecution case on the material before the court”.

However, she thought the fact he had spent three days in custody for the first time must be a “salutary lesson” for anyone of his age and granted bail to give him the opportunity to address his issues in the community.

Mr Hogg’s bail conditions include that he lives in Rivett, does not go near Cooleman Court Shopping Centre and does not consume alcohol or drugs. His matter was adjourned to 6 April. He has not yet entered a plea.