South Australia’s dumbest, weirdest crimes heard in court in 2024 … so far
One sent a picture of a stolen $140,000 luxury car to his girlfriend, another mixed up his pints with a grieving friend. Here are some of SA’s dumbest crimes of the year.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
One stole a $140,000 Range Rover and sent a picture of it to his girlfriend saying it was their new car. Another was done for drink driving after not realising how big pints were, while a third assaulted a police officer after a kid-free night turned wild.
Here are some of SA’s dumbest crimes so far, for 2024 – and check out the list for 2023 here.
Brooke Lee Haynes
A night out for a young mum took a turn for the worse when she and her partner got involved in a brawl that later led to her assaulting a police officer.
Brooke Lee Haynes, 26, was enjoying a child-free night with her partner when they got into a brawl at Falafel House on Hindley St.
Haynes pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault and two counts of assault worker on April 30.
Peter Hill, for Haynes, said the pair had “responsibly caught an Uber into town” before the “night got out of hand clearly due to intoxication”.
“We say it’s not the case that this is a lady with a drinking problem or a drug problem, she’s simply a hardworking stay-at-home mother,” he said.
“The (police officer sustained) a broken arm and that’s not the subject of any charges, the two assault police (charges) came by way of two allegations of spitting.”
Haynes was sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended upon her entering a good behaviour bond of 18 months.
Mark John Walters
A South Australian man has been jailed for stabbing his high school friend in the stomach over a $50 drug debt.
Mark John Walters, 49, was sentenced in the District Court in March after being found guilty by a jury after pleading not guilty to aggravated causing serious harm with intent to cause serious harm.
At the time, prosecutor Robert Kane told the court the victim had been invited to fight because he owed the accused $50 for methamphetamine.
In sentencing, Judge Geraldine Davison said without medical attention it is likely the victim would not have survived.
“(The victim) suffered serious injuries including a laceration to his neck and abdomen,” she said.
“A portion of his bowel was protruding from his abdomen and he required immediate surgery.”
Judge Davison said the attack occurred after a series of abusive text messages between the pair.
After a few exchanges, Walters responded: “Come on you f***ing coward, come and say s**t to my face”.
Walters was sentenced to nine years and six months imprisonment with a non-parole period of five years and five months.
The sentence was backdated to July 17, 2023.
Rinald Raymond Lebois
A man with more than 150 convictions stole a $140,000 luxury car from an affluent Adelaide suburb before sending a photo of it to his girlfriend telling her it was their new car.
Rinald Raymond Lebois, 38, was sentenced in the District Court in February after he was arrested after stealing several items from homes in Unley Park.
Judge Simon Stratton said while sentencing Lebois this was his final warning after a “life of crime”.
“In the early hours, you were part of a joint enterprise whereby a residential home in Unley Park was broken into with the intention to commit theft while the two residents were asleep,” he said.
“The joint enterprise stole property including laptop computers, a watch, an iPhone, a drone bag, jewellery and personal papers, and then utilising keys that you also stole, you stole a $140,000 Range Rover from their garage.
“In fact, your attitude is tellingly revealed in text messages and photos retrieved from your girlfriend’s phone,” he said.
“For example, at 5.57am on 20 November 2021, you sent her two photos of the Range Rover you had just stolen accompanied by a text message saying ‘That’s our new car, babe’.
“You were pleased with your night’s work and you were clearly intending to keep the Range Rover.”
Lebois was sentenced to seven years imprisonment with a non-parole period of five years, seven months and seven days.
The sentence was backdated to December 8, 2021.
Lazar Karisik
A former crepe cafe owner who posted videos online threatening the life of SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens breached a good behaviour bond by posting on social media – once again.
Lazar Karisik, 30, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in March where he was sentenced after pleading guilty to breaching his bond, a range of driving offences, two counts of disorderly behaviour and one count of dishonestly taking property without consent.
The offences included the unlawful filming of Department of Community Corrections staff and clients, rude gestures to police officers, “abusing” a Corrections officer over the phone, stealing three rolls of tape from a Bunnings and driving through a red light at high speed.
Karisik was previously sentenced to seven months imprisonment in October 4, 2023 for an aggravated assault charge after saying in an Instagram video he would “slit” Mr Stevens’ throat.
Two months jail were suspended for a two-year supervised good behaviour bond that prohibited him publishing on the internet.
For his later offending, Karisik had convictions recorded and he was ordered to pay $1800 fines as well as the extension of his licence disqualification.
Barry Cant
A senior Burnside Council employee was caught drink driving after consoling a grieving friend and mixing up the size of his pints.
Barry Cant, 46, was sentenced in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in March after pleading guilty to driving with excess blood alcohol.
The Director of Environment and People in the Burnside Council was driving home from work on November 23, 2023 when his close friend contacted him to share news his mother was terminally ill and had a limited number of weeks to live.
He said he drank three pints while consoling his friend, before making the “short” drive home to Westbourne Park and didn’t realise the difference “between imperial pints and normal drinks”.
Cant was pulled into a static driver testing station around 7.30pm on Unley Rd where he blew a positive blood alcohol reading confirmed by a second test to be 0.130 – just 0.020 off a high range reading.
The court hear Cant told police on the day he “had three beers and minimal food other than a man shake”.
Cant was issued with a $900 fine, a six month licence disqualification and ordered to pay court, prosecution and victims of crimes fees.
A conviction was also recorded.
Exposed: The costly crimes of SA’s con-artists and fraudsters
From accountants fleecing millions from clients to dodgy doctors, lawyers and tradies, these criminals all ended up proving crime doesn’t pay.
Man tried to set woman on fire, days after jail release, court told
A day after being released from jail, a man allegedly poured acetone on a woman and tried to set her on fire – but his lawyer claims the alleged victim has “serious credibility issues”.