Savas Caruso has charges from playing music in his driveway dismissed

He was arrested in his underwear strumming his guitar before he refused to attend court – now this northern suburbs guitarist is celebrating “victory”.

Charges against an infamous northern suburbs underwear guitarist, arrested for playing music in his nonna’s driveway, have been dismissed.

Savas Caruso, an enigmatic rocker from Salisbury Downs known as Subb, faced Magistrate Mark Semmens in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The magistrate cited a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, a psychologist’s report and Mr Caruso’s commitment to rehabilitation as reasons for the dismissal.

“You enjoy music so much that you don’t realise that other people may not enjoy it as much as you do,” Mr Semmens said.

“If people could read this (psychologist’s) report from the community, they would understand your background and understand why you breached the (noise) order on this occasion.

Savas Caruso with defence lawyer Kassandra Girolamo at an earlier court appearance. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

Savas Caruso plays guitar outside of the Elizabeth Magistrates Court in April. Picture: Jason Katsaras

“You’re not deliberately trying to be difficult (and) you’re not trying to be a bad neighbour.”

Mr Semmens told the court he had seen Mr Caruso on YouTube and understood he was a popular northern suburbs figure.

Mr Caruso had been facing charges of failing to comply with an environmental protection order and refusing to give his name and address.

It came after he was arrested while playing guitar in his nonna’s driveway while in his underwear in June last year.

He had been playing guitar in his nonna’s driveway since about May and locals regularly watched his nearly naked performances.

Mr Caruso’s Facebook page showed the moment he was arrested after police say he used offensive language and lyrics while playing music.

Another video posted to the Facebook page is of Mr Caruso’s song called: “I’m a mad c***”.

The court progression was held up by Mr Caruso’s refusals in August last year and April this year to wear a mask to enter the court.

Savas "Subb" Caruso was arrested in late June last year after numerous noise complaints led to an environment protection order being issued. He performed every Sunday afternoon in the driveway of his Salisbury Downs home in nothing but his underwear. Picture: Facebook via NCA NewsWire

Mr Caruso (centre) celebrates outside the Elizabeth Magistrates Court as only he can with his brother and father after his charges were dismissed. Picture: Brinley Duggan

Mr Caruso told the court he was past the phase of performing on the pavement and was “wanting to move on with my music anyway”.

He then showed the court a poster of his upcoming gig later in the month at rock-heavy Enigma Bar on Hindley Street.

Outside of court Mr Caruso and his supporters celebrated the charges being dismissed after the more than year-long battle.

“I knew it was coming my way (now I’m looking forward to moving on with my music and in my project and just being right,” he told The Messenger.

“(The court battle) was all part and parcel of just being the man so it’s all good.”

Within minutes of his charges being dismissed Mr Caruso posted a photo of him standing outside of court in his underwear and holding his Gibson Les Paul captioned “victory”.