Troubled addict sentenced for latest round of brazen Nanaimo retail thefts

“The items were not recovered. The retail value was $1,500 for those three pairs of sunglasses,” Crown counsel’s Leanne Mascolo told court.

Store staff provided a suspect description and surveillance video, which police were able to use to discern Diraddo was responsible.

Four days later, Diraddo was across the highway at the Mid Island Liquor store at Dickinson Crossing.

Diraddo stole two high-value bottles of alcohol, worth about $300.

Again, in-store surveillance cameras revealed Diraddo was responsible, and the alcohol was not recovered.

Diraddo was arrested following a mid-afternoon April 14 altercation at Real Canadian Superstore on Metral Dr.

The prolific offender was reported by an employee to be filling three large tubs with groceries and other items from the store.

A staff member, well acquainted with Diraddo from prior encounters, informed Nanaimo RCMP of what was happening.

“The staff was not able to stop him, but the information provided by the staff to RCMP was that Mr. Diraddo was pushing a shopping cart southbound on Metral Drive,” Mascolo relayed.

Diraddo got off a transit bus on Metral Dr. and was intercepted by Nanaimo RCMP.

In this case, $800 worth of valuables was recovered and returned to the store by police.

Diraddo was arrested and has remained in custody ever since.

With a long history of thefts and crimes of violence, Diraddo has rotated in and out of jail for large portions of his adult life.

In December, he was sentenced for five thefts and violent altercations with loss prevention officers.

Diraddo is perhaps most well-known for threatening to kill a 13-year-old boy while stealing his mountain bike outside the Bowen Rd. McDonald’s last summer.

Court was reminded of Diraddo’s highly troubled childhood during his recent sentencing hearing before judge Chris Churchill.

Defence lawyer Cheyne Hodson referenced multiple forms of abuse his client endured as a child, and how at 14 years old, Diraddo was a full-blown alcoholic and cocaine user.

Diraddo is diagnosed with depression and anxiety related to his traumatic childhood.

Hodson didn’t downplay the severity of Diraddo’s most recent crime wave.

“It’s significant, but unsophisticated,” Hodson told court. “I think it just speaks to how much Mr. Diraddo was struggling out of custody with his addiction as such that he took these actions in broad daylight without any attempts to conceal his identity.”

With a prior work history as a concrete finisher, Hodson said Diraddo has been out of the workforce for a significant period of time due to his lifestyle.

Addressing court from a video feed at Nanaimo Correctional Centre, an apologetic Diraddo said being in jail has given him the opportunity to begin to take steps to address his addiction issues.

He’s aiming to reconnect with his children.

Diraddo addressed the court.

“It’s been one hell of a year…I just want to be me again,” an emotional Diraddo said. “I only started doing opioids a year and a half ago, two years (ago). I thought alcohol was bad, but opioids is f*cked right up.”

Judge Churchill accepted a jointly submitted sentencing recommendation for Diraddo, which called for a six-month jail sentence and one-year probation.

Previously homeless, court was told Diraddo has post-offence housing arrangements solidified.

Referencing Diraddo’s 35-year-old struggle with substance misuse, judge Churchill implored Diraddo to take meaningful community-based rehabilitative progress.

“It really is time, unless you want to continue good chunks of your life in custody.”

Judge Churchill expanded on the damage of Diraddo’s constant stealing to feed his habit.

“It’s a huge impact on our community in such a negative way…It just means that it costs everyone to deal with you, sir, no one more than you.”

Multiple charges were dropped in exchange for the offender’s guilty pleas.

Since Diraddo relies on social assistance, his financial position is likely why a restitution order was not applied to reimburse for the non-recovered items.

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by Ian Holmes

Troubled addict sentenced for latest round of brazen Nanaimo retail thefts

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