The most bizarre SA crimes committed in 2022 so far
A monk on meth, a “hare-brained” weed scheme and father-son vigilantes attacking an alleged pervert are just some of the cases that had judges scratching their heads.
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From a man forcing his friend’s head under scalding water because “he stank” to jail house bashings over stolen butter, there have certainly been some bizarre crimes committed in South Australia so far this year.
The Advertiser has compiled a list of weird and wacky court cases that we’ve covered so far in 2022.
Dylan Hopgood
A drugged-up dad told his mate that he stank before grabbing his head and putting it under scalding hot water for several minutes.
Dylan Barry Hopgood, 35, said he had no memory of the horrific assault he committed.
The Adelaide District Court in February heard Hopgood was drinking with his friend on August 10, 2020 in Port Pirie West.
Hopgood, who was also under the influence of drugs, became physically and verbally abusive towards the victim.
“You were yelling at him that he stank,” Judge Gordon Barrett said during sentencing.
Hopgood then grabbed the victim by the shirt and dragged him to the hand basin, putting the victim’s head under hot running water for four to five minutes.
Hopgood, of Port Pirie, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm.
Judge Barrett sentenced Hopgood to one year and eight months jail, with a non-parole period of 12 months.
The sentence was backdated to September 30.
Stuart Campman
A man who punched his prison cellmate over stolen butter turned to a life of crime after he started using methamphetamine.
Stuart William Campman, 35, was jailed for the “cowardly” attack that left his victim requiring surgery.
The Adelaide District Court in May heard Campman and the victim were residing in Port Augusta Prison.
“After initially getting on together, the defendant became increasingly aggressive, regularly asking the victim to fight him,” Judge Paul Cuthbertson said during sentencing.
The victim began fearing for his safety and requested a change of cells on March 10, 2020.
“While the victim was in his new cell the defendant entered and closed the door behind him,” Judge Cuthbertson said.
“He began arguing with the victim, claiming that the victim had taken his butter.”
Campman then punched the victim about 10 times, causing a right orbital face blowout fracture and a 4cm laceration across the victim’s forehead.
The victim was hospitalised and required surgery on the eye socket fracture and stitches.
The Risdon Park father pleaded guilty to causing harm with intent.
Judge Cuthbertson sentenced Campman to one year and three months in jail, with a non-parole period of 10 months.
The sentence was backdated to October 4.
Jordan Harley
Former monk Jordan Harley, 27, strayed from his life of spirituality after he got hooked on methamphetamine.
The Adelaide District Court in March heard police stopped Harley while he was driving and noticed a strong smell of marijuana on September 28, 2020 at Northfield.
Police searched the car and found 80g of marijuana, 527g of GHB, also known as fantasy, 33g of magic mushrooms and marijuana brownies.
They also found drug paraphernalia and tick lists.
Harley’s phone was analysed and drug dealing text messages were found.
“You were actively engaged in the business of selling drugs, including cannabis, fantasy, MDMA, methamphetamine and magic mushrooms for a period of approximately six months,” Judge Jane Schammer said during sentencing.
Police noticed Harley riding a bike with no helmet on April 16, 2021 at Brompton.
When they approached him he ran away.
Police searched Harley’s backpack and found 1.9g of methamphetamine and 157g of fantasy.
Harley, of Brompton, pleaded guilty to six counts of drug trafficking.
The court heard Harley began using drugs from a young age and dealt to fund his habit before he became involved with the Hare Krishna movement in 2014.
Judge Schammer sentenced Harley on March 10 to four years and three months jail, with a non-parole period of 18 months.
The sentence was backdated to April 16, 2021.
Michael Verrilli
A tradie busted with thousands of dollars worth of meth after a search of his scooter told police he was planning to supply the drug to guests at a wedding.
Michael Verrilli, 41, dodged jail in the Adelaide District Court after his life spiralled and he turned to drugs to cope.
Police stopped Verrilli riding a motor scooter with the wrong registration plate on February 11, 2020 at Pooraka.
Police searched the scooter and found two tubs of methamphetamine.
The first tub contained 26g of crystals, 16.5g of which was methamphetamine, and the second tub contained 25.3 of crystals, with 16.3g of methamphetamine.
Verrilli told police both tubs belonged to him and that he had been using 1.5g of the drug per day.
“You told police that the methamphetamine was for your personal guests at the wedding on the weekend,” Judge Paul Slattery said during sentencing.
Verrilli, of Penfield Gardens, had previously pleaded guilty to drug trafficking.
Judge Slattery sentenced Verrilli to two years and nine months in jail, with a non-parole period of 18 months.
The sentence was suspended on a two-year, $500 good behaviour bond, due to Verrilli’s ongoing employment and good prospects of rehabilitation.
Joshua McFarlane
A thug who tried to convince a court that he must have passively inhaled meth was told he had used up his last chance.
Joshua John McFarlane, 30, was jailed in the Adelaide District Court in May after the “powerful incentive” of caring for his terminally ill mother wasn’t enough to quit meth.
McFarlane, who pleaded guilty to assault and theft, was ordered in February to serve his 13-month jail term, with a non-parole period of seven months on home detention.
The court heard McFarlane had relapsed into methamphetamine use and returned positive drug tests.
Indianna Davis, for McFarlane, previously told the court he said he hadn’t consumed methamphetamine on one occasion and must have passively inhaled it.
However, after the court received an expert’s opinion on Friday, it was determined that the levels of methamphetamine in McFarlane’s urine contradicted this.
Judge Muscat revoked McFarlane’s home detention order and ordered the balance be served in custody.
McFarlane will be required to serve over five months in custody before he is eligible for parole.
Michael and Trevor Lindsay
Two men have dodged jail after they bashed a man in a vigilante attack, leaving him with serious injuries, because he allegedly exposed himself in public.
Fuelled by rage, Trevor James Lindsay, 34, and his father Michael Raymond Lindsay, 60, stomped on, kicked and punched the victim in their “cowardly” attack.
The Adelaide District Court in May heard the victim was walking away on Whitmore Square on May 12, 2020 when Trevor ran up behind him and repeatedly punched him to the face, knocking him to the ground.
“After he went to the ground you kicked and stomped on his body and head,” Judge Heath Barklay said during sentencing.
“While the victim was on the ground with Trevor Lindsay kicking him you, Michael Lindsay, joined in and kicked the victim.
“You both then punched him to the head while he was on the ground.”
“Your explanation for the offending was that prior to your attack the victim, who had been drinking with a group of people associated with you, had exposed his genitals in front of the group including women and children,” Judge Barklay said.
Both Adelaide men pleaded guilty to causing harm with intent to cause harm.
Judge Barklay sentenced Michael to two years and ten months jail, with a non-parole period of one year and ten months.
Trevor was sentenced to two years and nine months’ jail, with a non-parole period of one year and nine months.
Both sentences were suspended on a three year good behaviour bond, with supervision for two years.
Jarrad Leao
A young man who threw hot water on his cellmate because he was acting “weird” is trying to turn his life around.
Jarrad Leao, 25, committed the brutal assault out of fear that his cellmate was going to attack him.
The Adelaide District Court heard Leao’s victim was his cellmate at the Adelaide Remand Centre where he was in custody at the time.
CCTV footage showed Leao’s cellmate sitting in the common area while Leao filled up a cup of hot water on July 14, 2020.
“You are seen to pick up the cup and approach the victim and then throw the contents over the side of his face,” Judge Joanne Tracey said during sentencing.
Leao then punched him several times, before the prison guards separated them.
The court heard Leao’s victim suffered burns to his shoulder and face and was hospitalised for two days.
Leao pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including causing harm with intent and theft.
The court heard Leao told a psychologist he threw hot water on his cellmate out of desperation, as he was being “weird” and “frequently touching him”.
Leao was sentenced to nine months in jail.
The sentence was backdated to September 12, 2021.
Sean Lander
A man who falsely believed there was promiscuity going on in a cafe pulled a tube of “lubricant” out of his pocket and masturbated in front of a worker.
Sean Alan Lander, 41, misread cues and decided it was appropriate to commit the vile act in front of the “disturbed” woman.
The Adelaide Magistrates Court in January heard the victim was working at a Melrose Park cafe when Lander walked in and approached her.
“The male remained at the cafe and appeared to put his left hand down his pants several times,” the police prosecutor said.
Lander continued to engage the victim in conversation while continuing to masturbate and at one stage exposed himself.
Nick Vadasz, for Lander, told the court he had misunderstood cues on the day of his offending.
“He in his own mind thought there was some promiscuity going on in that particular cafe and he was excited about that,” he said.
“He entered into that cafe … he placed his hand down his trousers and massaged his excitement.”
Mr Wickens sentenced Lander to a $100, 12-month good behaviour bond.
A conviction was recorded.
Jonathon and Michelle Evans
A husband and wife have dodged jail after an internet search led them astray and they came up with a dopey illegal project.
Jonathon Evans, 55, and Michelle Evans, 53, embarked on a “harebrained scheme” to help their daughter flee domestic violence, a court heard.
The Adelaide District Court in February heard cops attended the couple’s Two Wells home in May of 2020 and found 6.1kg of marijuana worth $27,000-$34,000.
Police also found 13 globes and shades, light fittings, bud strippers and a carbon filter.
The Eyre couple pleaded guilty to commercial drug trafficking.
“The enterprise was described by your lawyers as a harebrained scheme and, frankly, it was,” Judge Julie McIntyre said during sentencing.
The court heard the Evans’ concocted the plan to raise funds for their daughter who was in a domestic violence living arrangement and to pay off other debts.
Mr Evans read online that you could grow up to four marijuana plants and only receive a fine of about $1000 if caught.
Judge McIntyre sentenced “the main offender”, Mr Evans to three years and three months jail, with a non-parole period of one year and 10 months.
Mrs Evans was sentenced to three years jail, with a non-parole period of one year and six months.
Both sentences were suspended on a three-year, $1000 good behaviour bond.
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