The criminals of the Upper Spencer Gulf who faced court in 2021

From a violent attempted rapist and a paedophile who preyed on students to a former firie’s drug threats, these are the region’s criminals punished in 2021.

From drug dealers to domestic violence offenders, plenty of Upper Spencer Gulf residents have found themselves in trouble with the law this year.

Officer in Charge of Yorke Mid North Local Service Area, Superintendent Mark Syrus said Mid North police viewed any crime in the region as serious.

“We focus our efforts and actions on crime and anti-social behaviour hot spots, recidivist offenders and repeat victims utilising a number of tactics to apprehend offenders or disrupt criminal activity,” he said.

“By all working together we can all assist in driving crime down and making our community a safe place to live and work.”

Supt Syrus said SAPOL can, and will, take action to protect victims and children of domestic violence incidents and encouraged those at risk to contact police through 131 444, triple-0 in an emergency and support agencies.

Here is a list of Upper Spencer Gulf offenders who have recently appeared before the courts, and the consequences they’ve faced.

Nathan Werth

A Whyalla father who bashed his partner after a funeral had a long time to think about his actions while in custody.

Nathan Edward Werth, 34, is eligible for parole for his vicious assault on his partner who had only recently given birth to their daughter.

Werth and the victim attended a family funeral on September 24, 2020.

Nathan Werth. Picture: Facebook

“You got into a disagreement with one of the family members of the complainant that led to a physical altercation,” Judge Paul Slattery said during sentencing.

Werth left the funeral early.

“Sometime after she (the victim) entered the home you commenced yelling at her and blamed her for the earlier disagreement you had with one of her family members,” Judge Slattery said.

“In the course of that argument you got into the face of the complainant and headbutted her.”

The court heard Werth then hit the victim multiple times to the face, before pushing her head into a door.

The victim was hospitalised and suffered significant injuries to her nose, extensive swelling, soreness and a bump on the back of her head.

Werth, of Whyalla Norrie, had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of assault.

Judge Slattery sentenced Werth to 21 months jail, with a non-parole period of 11 months.

The sentence was backdated to September 25, 2020 when Werth was taken into custody, meaning he is now eligible for parole.

Jesse Vallerant

A country drug dealer who threatened customers if they didn’t pay their debts didn’t stop selling even after he was caught the first time.

Jesse Blaze Vallerant, 28, was jailed in the Adelaide District Court for the “bad choices” he made.

The court heard police received information Vallerant was involved in drug trafficking in January 2019.

Jesse Vallerant. Picture: Facebook

They searched Vallerant’s car and found 3.5g of methamphetamine, a mobile phone and $2600 in cash.

Police searched Vallerant’s house and found cash, more methamphetamine, empty resealable bags and a tick list.

His house was searched again in April 2020 and police found cash, multiple mobile phones and 29.7g of methamphetamine, valued between $3500-5000.

Vallerant, of Whyalla, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking.

Judge Heffernan sentenced Vallerant to six years jail, with a non-parole of three years.

Nicholas Watts

A man who bashed and choked his heavily pregnant partner until her legs gave way wants to start afresh after being released from jail.

Nicholas Ra Watts, 42, has shown no remorse for the violent assaults he inflicted on his partner on multiple occasions.

The Adelaide District Court heard Watts and his partner had been living together for about seven months at the time of the offending.

The court heard Watts and the victim got into an argument in October, 2020.

“She woke to find you on top of her, having pulled the top of the bed quilt over her and placed your hands around her throat and after you released her, you punched her once to the left side of her rib cage,” Judge Paul Slattery said.

Watts assaulted the victim again in November, 2020.

“You began verbally abusing her and then grabbed her by the throat and dragged her from the bed.

“You pinned her up against the wall by her throat with the consequence that she was unable to breath and her legs gave way.”

Watts, of Whyalla Norrie, had previously pleaded guilty to assault, choking and damaging property.

The sentence was backdated to May 7.

Frederick Webb

A man was getting his life back on track when the Covid-19 pandemic hit and he fell back into his vile habits.

Frederick Charles Webb, 49, is now eligible for parole after he was caught with child exploitation material only shortly after being released for jail on child sex crimes.

Police arrested Webb on June 26.

“When they searched you, police found a USB which was analysed and found to contain child exploitation material,” Judge McIntyre said.

The court heard police found nine video files of child exploitation material, containing footage of children under the age of 14.

Webb, of Port Augusta, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing child exploitation material.

Judge McIntyre sentenced Webb to one year and seven months jail, with a non-parole period of one year.

The sentence was backdated to June 26, 2020, meaning Webb is now eligible for parole.

Steven Wheeler

A country drug dealer who was caught with methamphetamine and tick lists after a bust is trying to turn his life around.

Steven John Wheeler, 35, avoided jail in the Adelaide District Court after taking drugs once became an addiction.

The court heard police approached Wheeler on April 13, last year in Whyalla Norrie.

Steven Wheeler. Picture: Facebook

“You had $760 and a single small plastic zip-locked bag containing 8.28g of methamphetamine,” Judge Adam Kimber said during sentencing.

Police then searched Wheeler’s home and found four packages containing 7g of methamphetamine, 41g of marijuana, $820 and two tick lists.

Wheeler, of Whyalla Norrie, had previously pleaded guilty to drug trafficking.

Judge Kimber sentenced Wheeler to two years and seven months jail, with a non-parole period of 19 months.

He ordered the sentence be served on home detention.

Craig Warner

A paedophile sexually abused six boys over a 12-year period grossly betrayed the trust of his victims and their families, a court was told.

Craig Anthony Warner, 41, robbed many boys of their childhood, to fulfil his own “sick and twisted” needs, the Adelaide District Court heard.

A prosecutor told the court that there were six victims, who Warner sexually abused between 2006 and 2018, in Whyalla and Mawson Lakes.

The court heard the offending had a significant impact on victims and their families, as Warner would regularly take the boys to school or help them with their homework.

“Three of the five charges of maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship involve more than one act of fellatio,” the prosecutor said.

Warner, of Parafield Gardens, has pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child and indecent assault.

He will be sentenced at a later date.

Graham Chevalier

A man who choked his partner until she lost consciousness then tried to persuade her to drop the charges, a court has heard.

Graham Edward Miles Chevalier, 33, was jailed in the Adelaide District Court for his horrific domestic violence assaults.

Chevalier and his partner got into an argument on March 13, 2020 at Whyalla Stuart.

“You then decided to assault her and commenced punching her in the chest, causing a struggle as she tried to defend herself,” Judge Simon Stretton said during sentencing.

“She put her arm up to protect herself whereupon you struck her arm with your head, breaking her arm.”

Chevalier and the victim then went for a drive on March 22, 2020.

“You decided to do some burnouts, lost control of your vehicle and drove it into a ditch,” Judge Stretton said.

“Somehow you decided to blame (the victim) for this and started abusing her verbally, at which she got out of the car and ran.”

Chevalier chased her and pulled her to the ground and struck her twice with a wooden stick.

“You then grabbed her by the neck of her shirt with both hands and dragged her onto your lap and began to choke her, choking her to unconsciousness,” Judge Stretton said.

The court heard Chevalier was arrested but started a “persistent campaign” to pressure the victim to drop the charges against him.

Chevalier had previously pleaded to multiple domestic violence offences and attempting to dissuade that witness from giving evidence.

Judge Stretton sentenced Chevalier to five years jail, with a non-parole period of two years and six months.

The sentence was backdated to April 25, 2020.

Matthew Lennon

An opal miner fuelled by alcohol viciously struck his former partner’s sister with a bottle after they got into a heated argument.

Matthew Scott Lennon, 47, was jailed in the Adelaide District Court after he left the woman fearful for her life during the brutal attack.

Matthew Lennon. Picture: Facebook

Lennon was drinking with a group on July 29 at Port Augusta West when he got into an argument with his former partner’s sister.

“You took a spirits bottle and struck her with that to the head and then struck her again with the bottle after it had broken,” Judge Rauf Soulio said during sentencing.

The court heard the victim suffered injuries including a large, deep laceration to the back of her head and lacerations to her skull, neck and shoulder.

Lennon, of Port Augusta, had previously pleaded guilty to causing harm with intent to cause harm.

Judge Soulio sentenced to two years and nine months, with a non-parole period of one year.

The sentence was backdated to July 29 when Lennon was taken into custody.

Jack Wundenberg

A man grabbed his partner by the throat for close to a minute, before threatening to slit her children’s throats in an alcohol-fuelled attack.

Jack Dwayne Wundenberg, 27, avoided jail in the Adelaide District Court for the assault that had a significant lasting impact on his ex-partner.

The court heard Wundenberg got into an argument with his victim on June 10, 2019 at Wall Flat.

Jack Wundenberg. Picture: Facebook

“You grabbed her around the throat with your right hand, lifting her off the ground and pushing her against the wall,” Chief Judge Michael Evans said during sentencing.

“You continued to hold her with your right hand for about 40-50 seconds before letting her go, where she slumped to the floor.”

The court heard Wundenberg who had grabbed a knife during the argument, threatened her children, who were home at the time.

The Wall Flat man had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and threatening to kill or endanger life.

Chief Judge Evans sentenced Wundenberg to one year and two months’ jail, with a non-parole period of seven months.

It was suspended on a three-year good behaviour bond, with supervision for two years.

Jye Kemp

A father has shown no remorse for pulling out a knife at the sight of his wife having sexual intercourse with another man and then attacking them.

Jye Nathan Kemp, 42, was jailed in the Adelaide District Court for his “violent and extreme” reaction.

Jye Kemp. Picture: Facebook

The court heard the victims were Kemp’s wife and his friend, who he attended at the premises of on December 17, 2019 at Mullaquana.

“As you entered the house you observed (the man) and your wife having sexual intercourse,” Judge Julie McIntyre said during sentencing.

Kemp then pulled out a knife.

“You slashed at (the man) who took cover behind an armchair,” Judge McIntyre said.

“You proceeded to assault your wife.

“You grabbed her around the neck with both hands and held her down for some time.”

Kemp, of Whyalla Norrie, had previously pleaded guilty to serious criminal trespass and three counts of assault.

Judge McIntyre sentenced Kemp to four years and three months, with a non parole period of two years and two months.
The sentence was backdated to December 18, 2019.

Randall Bickley

An attempted rapist who was addicted to methamphetamine only stopped his attack on a woman after considerable struggling.

Randall John Ross Bickley, 21, is regretful for his “terrifying” assault on a woman, which he told her he was going to commit whether she liked it or not.

Randall Bickley. Picture: Instagram

Keryn Park, for the prosecution, told the Adelaide District Court Bickley misinterpreted the victim’s intentions when she came to visit him in April, last year.

“He was persistent after she pushed him away when he tried to kiss her,” Ms Park said.

“This evolved into what became a forceful and violent attempt to sexually assault her.

“He forced her back onto the bed more than once during the incident and in the face of the victim crying and screaming for help, he then proceeded to touch her breasts and her clothing and remove her pants.”

The court heard Bickley then punched the victim to the face and told her what he intended on doing, whether she liked it or not.

Bickley, of Whyalla Stuart, had previously pleaded guilty to assault with intent to rape.

He will be sentenced at a later date.