10 South Australians who fell from grace and turned to crime
Some were meant to uphold the law, others to help kids, others came from privileged backgrounds. But all of these South Australians found themselves in court.
Police & Courts
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From police officers finding themselves on the wrong side of the law to teachers committing crimes after spiralling into drug and alcohol abuse, these are 10 South Australians who fell from grace.
Richard Lloyd Bartholomew
A former property officer of the South Australia Police avoided jail for stealing items he was in charge of destroying over a 10 year period.
Richard Lloyd Bartholomew was found guilty of 19 out of 20 counts of aggravated dishonestly taking property without consent back in August of this year.
During Bartholomew’s 2022 trial, a prosecutor told the Christies Beach Magistrates Court that police had found a number of stolen items – including various Sony PlayStation models, an iPad, a Canon Camera, Xbox, a HP computer monitor and Bosch, Makita and Milwaukee power tools – while carrying out a search of his Prospect Hill property on September 17, 2019.
Bartholomew never disputed taking the items, but disputed he had deprived anyone, including South Australian police, of their property.
Andrew Culshaw, for Bartholomew, said at the time, his client was in possession of the items in an attempt to reduce waste.
The trial heard the detailed process property officers must carry out when defining items that have been placed in police protection.
In her published reasons, Magistrate Lynette Duncan said that while the police were not the “traditional owners” of the property items, they had gained a proprietary interest in each item by virtue of its possession and control of the property, including to determine how the property should be disposed of.
Magistrate Duncan sentenced Bartholomew to four months imprisonment, suspended on a 12-month good behaviour bond.
James House
A Merc-driving drug dealer educated at one of Adelaide’s most elite private schools gave away meth to “buy friends and show off”, a court has heard.
Former Prince Alfred College student James William House, 31, avoided jail after he was caught with an ounce of meth outside a suspected drug house.
During sentencing, the District Court heard police officers were observing a Woodcroft premises on May 20, 2020 in relation to information that drugs were being trafficked.
House was seen driving his Mercedes Benz before stopping outside the house police were watching.
Police followed the car, with House accelerating and nearly crashing into a median strip.
The court heard House stopped when he realised it was police following him.
Police searched House’s car and found 27.6g of a substance, which contained 16.4g of methamphetamine, in the passenger side footwell.
The Advertiser understands House’s wider family are well-known Adelaide identities in the construction industry.
His father, Henry Christopher House, known as Chris, died in July 2002, aged 44, after a “sudden illness”.
Chris House, formerly of Springfield, in Adelaide’s southeastern foothills, was director of a well-known building company with his twin brother before his death, according to business records filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Judge Telfer said James House grew up with great financial advantage due to his father’s estate.
She sentenced House to two years and six months jail, with a non-parole period of 18 months.
The sentence was suspended on a two-year good behaviour bond, with supervision.
Joshua Winslet
Winning $22m in the lottery would be life-changing for anybody, but for one man it led to a life of crime and being a “free ride” for drug users, a court has heard.
Joshua John Winslet, 27, became “hopelessly drug addicted” after his “hedonistic” lifestyle led to his downward spiral.
The District Court heard police attended Winslet’s New Port home on August 30, 2020 on information that drugs were being manufactured there.
They located 2.27g of cocaine on him, as well as 23.9 grams of MDMA in a safe in one of the bedrooms.
Police also found a further 4.4g of MDMA in the wardrobe, as well as a Mauser handgun and ammunition in a manhole in the bathroom.
Winslet pleaded guilty to supplying MDMA and possessing a firearm without a licence.
The court heard Winslet won over $22m in the Powerball in 2017.
The court heard Winslet, 27, was “hopelessly drug addicted” at the time of the offending and hanging around with the wrong people, which he allowed to “run amok” in his house.
“You had lots of money so you could afford to buy large amounts of drugs, which you would use yourself and supply to your so-called friends from time to time,” Judge Heath Barklay said during sentencing.
“You, in many ways, were a free ride.”
Judge Barklay sentenced Winslet to three years and nine months, with a non-parole period of 18-months.
The sentence was suspended on a two-year good behaviour bond, with supervision.
Stephen Sideras
A father-of-five was jailed for over four years after a search of his home and tyre shop business uncovered a commercial cannabis operation.
Stephen Paul Sideras, 30, was up to his old tricks three months after being given a chance by the court to avoid jail for similar offending.
During sentencing, the District Court heard police attended Sideras’ home at Lewiston and business at Smithfield on November 25, 2021.
During the search, police located shopping bags in a duffel bag containing a total of 2.5kg of cannabis.
Police also located cannabis oil in two pressure cooker pots and more than $13,000.
Text messages revealed Sideras had been trafficking from at least August 2021 and selling in pound quantities up to $2800.
Sideras pleaded guilty to commercial drug trafficking and manufacturing a controlled drug.
Sideras was charged with the new offences three months after he was sentenced in the Adelaide Magistrates Court for two counts of drug trafficking.
Police searched a shed on a Lewiston property on June 17, 2020 and found 295ml of marijuana across nine vape pens and two bottles, as well as 504g of green paste, containing marijuana.
Sideras was sentenced to one-year jail, with a non-parole period of seven-months, which was suspended on a $500, 12-month good behaviour bond.
Judge Burnett revoked the suspended sentence bond and sentenced Sideras to four years and two months jail, with a non-parole period of two years and three months.
Heidi Tomkins
A veteran educator who trafficked in almost $250,000 worth of drugs including meth was spared a jail cell because of her “remarkable story of rehabilitation and redemption”.
The District Court ordered Heidi Marie Tomkins serve her six-year sentence on home detention, saying leaving her “without hope” was not in the community’s best interests.
Judge Rauf Soulio said Tomkins had spent two decades selflessly teaching children with special needs and behavioural issues, and lived 40 years without committing a single crime.
Her “descent” into meth use and dealing, he said, arose from her acute self-consciousness, crippling lack of self-esteem and “pattern” of abusive relationships.
Tomkins, 42, of Mawson Lakes, pleaded guilty to having trafficked in MDMA – also known as ecstasy – and methylamphetamine in May and August 2020.
She was, at that time, working for the Department of Education and Child Development as a senior educator and behaviour support coach for almost 19 years.
In sentencing, Judge Soulio said Tomkins had worked extensively with primary school-aged students in Gawler and Port Pirie prior to her arrest, which resulted in her suspension.
Gregory Morcom
A former lawyer found himself on the wrong side of the law again – this time for an “amateur attempt” at cooking methamphetamine.
Gregory Donovan Gwynfor Morcom, 45, avoided jail after police uncovered the clandestine laboratory in his accomplice’s house.
During sentencing, the District Court heard police searched a Salisbury North residence on September 14, 2020 and found Morcom and his co-defendant Nigel Robert Oldfield present.
Police located chemicals and equipment associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Expert officers from Forensic Science SA and the Drug and Organised Crime Task Force attended to dismantle and process what they identified as a clandestine laboratory.
The court heard the forensic chemist who analysed the scene believed the chemicals could have been used to manufacture 2g of methamphetamine.
However, the equipment was not set-up or operating at the time of the search.
The court heard Morcom was admitted to the Supreme Court as a lawyer in 2005 before eventually starting his own firm.
However, after Morcom was sentenced for six counts of possessing child exploitation in 2014, he was struck off as a lawyer in 2017.
Morcom was then sentenced in 2021 to two years jail, with a non-parole period of 13 months for possessing a firearm.
Judge Emily Telfer sentenced Morcom to one year and five months jail, with a non-parole period of 10 months.
Due to Morcom’s rehabilitation efforts, the sentence was suspended on a two year good behaviour bond.
Matthew Lane
A fraudster who ripped off his workplace $350,000 to fuel his gambling addiction won’t have to pay a cent back in compensation, a court has heard.
Matthew Lane, 50, avoided jail for harbouring a sinister secret while trusted by an international company with a significant responsibility.
During sentencing, the Adelaide Magistrates Court heard Lane was employed as the country manager of a Taiwan-based agricultural company with global offices in August 2015.
The court heard Lane, who was responsible for company finances and product distribution, was issued with a company debit card limited to business expenses.
The company requested sales reports from Lane in May 2016 and became concerned when Lane didn’t provide them and initiated an investigation – revealing significant discrepancies.
The court heard there were a number of cash withdrawals and transfers directly into his personal bank account, as well as purchases at retail and grocery stores.
The total amount of misappropriated company funds was $350,000.
The court heard Lane also deceived Aussie Farmers Group who made two payments totalling $18,480 for farming chemicals.
Aussie Farmers Group believed they were transferring money to the company, however Lane had provided them with his personal bank account.
The Carrickalinga father-of-four pleaded guilty to 11 counts of theft and one count of deception, replacing the 323 originally laid by police.
Mr Millard sentenced Lane to three years jail, with a non-parole period of 18 months.
The sentence was suspended on a $1000, three-year good behaviour bond, with supervision for 12 months.
Marcus Bird
A teacher left a teenage KFC worker feeling disgusted and violated after he exposed himself to her in the drive thru.
Former The Heights school teacher Marcus Paul Bird, 36, who no longer works in the profession, was intoxicated when he made the “stupidest decision of his life” by committing the vile act.
The Adelaide Magistrates Court heard Bird went through a southern suburbs KFC drive thru on June 11, 2021, and was served by a 17-year-old worker.
“He made suggestive comments and then wound down his window, exposing his penis,” a police prosecutor said.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the victim said she felt disgusted and violated by Bird’s offending.
“I was just trying to mind my own business and do my job, why did this guy have to do this?” she said.
“I was too scared to go back to the serving area in case it happened again.”
Bird, of Plympton, pleaded guilty to indecent behaviour.
James Marcus, for Bird, told the court his client lost his career as a teacher because of the offending.
Bird taught English and LOTE and became the Year 10 co-ordinator, which saw him supervise 25 teachers.
The court heard Bird, who suffered post traumatic stress disorder from the accident, began drinking heavily and his life spiralled.
Magistrate Kym Millard convicted Bird and sentenced him to a $1000, two year good behaviour bond.
Jordan Koch
Decorated SA Police detective Jordan Lloyd Koch committed “the highest level of misconduct” by abusing his “power and privilege” to groom and sexually assault a teenage girl.
“Cristina” was sexually assaulted by Koch when she was just 15 – ruining her health and wellbeing, and robbing her of the simplest comfort a child can seek.
“Something I haven’t told anyone before, because I was afraid it would hurt him, is that I was afraid of my own father for a period of time,” she told The Advertiser.
“I was afraid to be alone with him in the car, for him to even touch my arm or hug me.
“I knew he was nothing like Jordan and deep down I knew I could trust him, but I couldn’t help but think that the people you trust can do the most horrendous and disgusting things to you.”
Cristina – not her real name – and her father embraced as the District Court jailed Koch for three years and three months with a 20-month non-parole period.
The 17-year SA Police veteran and decorated volunteer firefighter groomed Cristina by social media and text before abusing her, demanding she keep his crime secret.
In sentencing on Friday, Judge Liesl Kudelka said that, as a police officer, Koch “should have known better” than to engage in the “sinister” pursuit of a child.
Daniel Clark
A former not-for-profit boss who spent over $200k at strip clubs and massage parlours has been remanded in custody just over a month before he is to be sentenced.
Daniel Luke Clark appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court for sentencing submissions when Magistrate Jayanthi Pandya revoked his bail.
Ms Pandya said it should be of no surprise that Clark was at risk of having his bail revoked after stealing funds from the SA Sports Medicine Association and spending them on “items of personal gratification”.
Between December 2015 and December 2020, Clark, 42, stole $216,380 from SASMA while employed as its executive officer and spent it at strip clubs and massage parlours.
In August, he pleaded guilty to 10 counts of dishonestly dealing with property without the owner’s consent and one count of dishonest dealings with documents.
Dr David Spurrier, former president of SASMA, delivered a victim impact statement on behalf of the not-for-profit saying Clark’s actions “almost ended the organisation”.
“When Clark left the association in April 2021, we were only aware of the initial fraud amount of $65,061.33 that was spent at a London sex club over two days in August 2019,” he said.
Supporters of Clark in the body of the court burst into tears as he was remanded in custody.
He will be sentenced next month.
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