Eight young defendants who were sentenced in SA courts within the past two years
From a “naive” drug dealer to an “immature” wannabe bikie, these fresh-faced defendants paid the price with the law for their stupid decisions while growing up.
Police & Courts
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With age comes maturity and part of growing up involves making stupid decisions.
However, for these fresh faced defendants those foolish choices had them staring down the barrel of the law.
From an “immature” wannabe bikie to a “stupid” and “dangerous” teenage driver these eight young criminals paid serious consequences for their actions.
Oscar Suursaar
A “naive” drug dealer narrowly avoided jail after he was caught running a MDMA enterprise from his bedroom.
Oscar Jack Suursaar, 23, was told by a judge not to waste the opportunity after he imported pill presses from China left an obvious trail for police to follow.
Detectives from the serious and organised crime branch went to an address in Cherry Gardens on September 5, last year following an investigation into MDMA, also known as ecstasy.
During sentencing, the District Court heard Suursaar was found in possession of 355g of mixed MDMA, including six packets of 50 pills.
Police also found a metal pill press and pill press dyes in the shape of Bitcoin and a Nike sneaker.
The court heard the packets of pills were valued at approximately $6000, with the balance worth up to $72,000 if sold by the gram or $29,000 if sold by the ounce.
However, there had been no sales at the time of Suursaar’s arrest.
Suursaar, of Cherry Gardens, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking.
Andrew Graham, for Suursaar, admitted his client expected to make some profit from the drugs but it was an “immature and amateurish” enterprise as he purchased the items in his own name.
Judge Kris Handshin sentenced Suursaar to three years and four months jail, with a non-parole period of two years.
However, due to Suursaar’s age, lack of criminal history and commitment to rehabilitation, the sentence was suspended on an 18-month good behaviour bond.
Amber Hughes
An “immature” drug dealer who was living a glamorous lifestyle would talk aggressively to the customers who owed her money, a court heard.
Amber Hughes, 25, dodged jail after she turned to meth to escape her reality and became a “very business minded” trafficker.
The District Court heard police followed Hughes through the streets of Elizabeth on June 8, 2021.
“You tried to evade them and eventually you stopped the car on a nature strip and tried to run away,” Judge Ian Press said during sentencing.
Police found 7.34g of methamphetamine in a plastic tub and a glass pipe.
On Hughes’ phone police located numerous messages dating back to April 24, 2021 consistent with her trafficking methamphetamine.
“There were also photographs of cash, drugs and you holding an item with the appearance of a handgun,” Judge Press said.
Judge Press said the messages showed Hughes had embraced what she perceived to be a glamorous lifestyle, which he said was indicative of her immaturity at that time.
The southern suburbs mother-of-two pleaded guilty to drug trafficking.
Judge Press sentenced Hughes to three years and one month jail, with a non-parole period of one year and nine months.
However, due to Hughes’ age and insight into her offending, the sentence was suspended on a $100, two year good behaviour bond.
Ali Binetti
A 21-year-old prospective Hells Angels bikie was “immature” when he chased a man into a cafe while wearing club colours, a court heard.
Ali Binetti, of Felixstow, was told he made a “wise decision” to not pursue his involvement with the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club after the offending.
“I accept that at the time of this offending you were a short-term prospect of the Hells Angels North Crew,” Magistrate John Wells said.
“I accept that after you were arrested in September last year, you reconsidered your involvement with that motorcycle club.
“I’m prepared to accept that you were immature, and that having reflected on your own involvement, you decided being involved with the Hells Angels would not ultimately be a useful pursuit for you. That was a wise decision.”
On August 23, 2023, Mr Binetti was involved in a scuffle with a man known to him in a carpark on the corner of Lower North East Rd and Downer Ave in Campbelltown.
The court has earlier heard he chased the man into a nearby cafe called Cafe Va Bene, while wearing a Hells Angels North Crew “prospect” T-shirt – a prohibited item inside a licensed premises.
Upon a search of Mr Binetti’s address, police located a crossbow under the staircase with two arrows in the house.
Mr Binetti, 21, pleaded guilty to using or having possession of a prohibited weapon – a crossbow – and carrying a prohibited item.
He also pleaded guilty to entering licensed premises while wearing a prohibited item of clothing, namely his Hells Angels “prospect” T-shirt.
The charges arose from two incidents in September last year.
Mr Binetti will be convicted without further penalty given his time spent in custody, with Mr Wells “specifically” taking into account the eight days in custody he served after his August arrest before being granted home detention bail.
Dylan Newham
A “stupid” and “dangerous” teenage driver who repeatedly tried to escape police and drove at more than 80km/h over the speed limit has been jailed – but his licence has already been suspended until the end of the century.
Dylan John Newham spent his 20th birthday behind bars at Mobilong Prison charged with offences including driving at extreme speed, driving while disqualified and driving dangerously to escape police pursuit.
Newham’s dangerous driving centred around the southern suburbs and started on May 26, 2022 when he was first pulled over driving while disqualified.
On July 7, 2022, he was detected driving at 141km/h in a 60km/h zone at Morphett Vale and four days later driving at 135km/h in a 60km/h zone.
Later that month Newham led police on a high-speed chase through the southern suburbs, reaching speeds of 120km/h in a 60km/h zone and driving around police spikes.
On August 6, 2022, Newham was seen driving at dangerous speeds on a dirt bike. He drove on the sidewalk at times as well as on the wrong side of the road.
He eventually stopped outside a Huntfield Heights property where he was arrested.
Newham was again released on bail but in March 2023, while indefinitely suspended from driving he again took to the road and led police on a high-speed chase.
For half an hour Newham sped through the southern suburbs, reaching speeds of 117km/h in a 60 zone and driving on the wrong side of the road to avoid police.
“In a flagrantly immature manner you decided you would do precisely what you wanted to do,” Magistrate John Wells said.
Newham was sentenced to 10 months and 10 days in prison for all charges.
Mr Wells ordered Newham be released from custody after three months and 10 days in custody with the balance of the sentence suspended.
Ralphy Burgoyne and Malcolm Gibbs
Two young thieves who were sentenced for their “foolish and immature” crimes were warned by a judge to change their attitudes or spend their best years in jail.
Ralphy Solomon Jacob Burgoyne, 20, and Malcolm Roger Ross Gibbs, 19, were among the gang of thieves involved in the smash-and-grab at a motorcycle store.
Burgoyne, Gibbs and four youths broke into SA Motorcycles at Gepps Cross on November 27, last year and stole a large number of high-value motorcycles.
The motorbikes, which included three red Honda trail bikes and a green Kawasaki trail bike, were valued at around $8600 each.
Burgoyne was captured on CCTV assisting in kicking open the front door and carrying out a motorbike, which he rode away on.
During sentencing in the District Court, Judge Paul Muscat said one of the boys filmed everybody riding around on the stolen bikes, which police later found as evidence.
Burgoyne, of Parafield Gardens, and Gibbs, of Adelaide, pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including serious criminal trespass and theft.
Judge Muscat sentenced Burgoyne to two years and one month jail, with a non-parole period of 12 months for his “foolish and immature” offending.
The sentence was backdated to November 29, 2021.
Gibbs was sentenced to three years and eight months jail, with a non-parole period of one year and ten months.
The sentence was backdated to November 27, 2021.
Gibbs was also disqualified from driving for three years.
Caleb Galffy
A young thug said he doesn’t want to go back to jail after he sought retribution for threats made against his sick father.
Caleb Levi Galffy, 22, was given a chance to turn his life around after he was sentenced for violent threats while in a heightened state of emotion.
Caroline Tassone, for Galffy, said the catalyst for the offending was when his father was in hospital with a blood infection and in an induced coma.
“The complainant’s son had made threats to go to the hospital where his dad was in a coma,” she said.
“The threats were serious. He says that he had threatened to kill him.”
Ms Tassone said Galffy went with a group to the victim’s property in October 2021 to confront him.
The court heard a member of Galffy’s group was holding what appeared to be a firearm at the time.
Galffy, of Paralowie, pleaded guilty to threatening life.
After taking into account time Galffy had spent in custody, Judge Soulio sentenced him to five months jail.
The sentence was suspended on a $1000, 18-month good behaviour bond.
Tegan Martin
An aspiring beautician’s animosity towards her ex landed her behind bars after she committed a vicious home invasion.
Tegan Lee Martin, 24, was drunk and high when she used a taser on her ex-boyfriend in the “pre-mediated” attack.
During sentencing, the District Court heard Martin had previously been in a relationship with the victim, Jacob Tiller, for approximately five years.
The court heard the relationship ended three years prior to the offending but there was still some “ill will” between the pair.
Martin, who was under the influence of drugs and alcohol, rushed through Mr Tiller’s unlocked sliding door on October 6, 2021 in Port Lincoln.
Martin opened the bathroom door where Mr Tiller was and Martin used a taser on him, while her co-accused is alleged to have hit him on the elbow with a metal pole.
Mr Tiller pushed past the duo and attempted to run to the back door but fell to the ground.
“(Your co-accused) stabbed Mr Tiller with the knife to the side of the head. You continued to use the taser on Mr Tiller,” Justice Julie McIntyre said.
Mr Tiller was taken to the Port Lincoln Hospital with an 8cm laceration to the side of his head.
The cut extended through the skin, muscle and onto the bone and required emergency surgery and 10 stitches.
Martin, of Port Lincoln, pleaded guilty to serious criminal trespass and causing harm with intent.
Justice McIntyre sentenced Martin to two years and five months jail, with a non-parole period of 10 months.
Her co-accused received a suspended sentence in the Youth Court.
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