It was February 7 and Kahlib Fleming was feeling good.
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"Fresh outta Oberon," the 21-year-old posted on his Facebook page, accompanied by his first selfie in months (right).
Fleming had just been released on parole after serving time behind bars for a raft of break and enter offences.
But his freedom was to be short lived.
Fleming fell back into his criminal ways less than a month later after drugs again took over his life.
Documents tendered to Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday reveal Fleming was caught red-handed inside the newly opened Ariel's Coffee Shop at Wollongong Railway Station late on the evening of March 5.
A witness reported seeing Fleming outside the entrance to the cafe just before 11.30pm and continued watching as the diminutive figure crouched down and opened the closed but unlocked front glass entry door.
The witness contacted police when he saw Fleming move inside the store.
Officers arrived minutes later and approached the front door, calling out "police, come out now".
They entered the cafe and moved through the premises before finding Fleming sitting cross legged in the walk-in fridge.
He was handcuffed and walked to the front of the store.
When interviewed, Fleming said he entered the store because he wanted a drink.
However, police discovered the cash register one the floor partially forced open. Fleming admitted he'd been trying to open the register when interrupted by police.
He was taken to Wollongong Police Station and charged with break, enter and steal.
Fleming pleaded guilty in court on Tuesday and was sentenced to six months jail.
The court heard Fleming had been a drug user since the age of 15 and was under the influence of Xanax and methamphetamine at the time of the break-in.
"It was clearly opportunistic," defence lawyer Claire Carpenter said.
"He doesn't think about the consequences of his actions when he's taking drugs.
"But he feels sad about what he happened and he's remorseful for the people he's hurt."
Magistrate Claire Girotto accepted that Fleming needed help with his drug problem and set a four-month parole period.
Fleming will be released on parole on September 4.
