Watch the videos: Eight South Australian crimes caught red-handed on CCTV
Sickening assaults, shocking robberies and horror car crashes – these South Australian criminals were all caught on film. Watch the videos.
Police & Courts
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They say a picture tells a thousand words, so unfortunately for these defendants caught red-handed on CCTV the evidence against them was strong.
From a sickening axe attack in the CBD to horror car crashes, these eight shocking crimes were caught on camera.
David Champion
A heroic elderly man chased after an attacker who viciously bashed him with a gun to try to save his car from being stolen, shocking CCTV footage revealed.
David Steven Champion, 41, was jailed for six years after he launched the violent attack on the unsuspecting man because he felt cheated by a car sale.
During sentencing, the District Court heard Champion sold a vehicle to the victim for $2000 after advertising it on Gumtree in November 2021.
In March 2022 Champion sent the victim, who was in his 70s, a text message asking if he would sell the vehicle back to him.
After some failed meetings, Champion attended the victim’s Woodville Park warehouse in March 2023.
Champion asked the victim where the nearest bank was and the victim turned to check the computer.
The CCTV footage shows Champion pulling a firearm from his jacket and striking the victim to the back of the head with the firearm as he sat with his back to him.
Champion hits the man with the firearm several times, with the victim falling to the ground.
The footage shows Champion continuing to strike the victim while he was on the ground and appearing to point the firearm at him.
Champion then grabs the keys from the victim’s desk and got into the driver’s seat of the vehicle.
The courageous victim, who has blood running down his face, then uses a carjack handle to smash the driver’s side window in an attempt to stop Champion.
Champion, of Elizabeth Downs, pleaded guilty to causing harm with intent, theft using force and possessing a firearm without a licence.
Champion was sentenced to six years and nine months jail, with a non-parole period of four years.
The sentence was backdated to June 2, 2023.
Ali Sharifi
A primary school teacher was left permanently disfigured after a brutal CBD axe attack on a night out.
Shocking CCTV footage shows Ali Sina Sharifi, 32, attacking Jake Elias before a wild brawl erupts on the street.
During sentencing, the District Court heard Sharifi and the victim, who was 19 at the time, were both on nights out on November 7, 2020.
At about 2am, Mr Elias and his group left the Black Bull Hotel where Sharifi was standing in a group acting aggressively.
Mr Elias’ group moved away from Sharifi’s group but encountered them again in the vicinity of the Backpacker’s Hotel.
Sharifi, who was carrying a small axe, became aggressive towards Mr Elias and his group.
“You attacked Mr Elias by initially striking him to the face such that the axe blade made contact,” Judge Carmen Matteo said.
During the nine second attack Sharifi struck Mr Elias a number of times and cut his face with his first strike.
The wound cut through to muscle, with Mr Elias retaining a permanent facial scar from this injury.
Sharifi, of Brahma Lodge, pleaded guilty to recklessly causing serious harm.
Judge Matteo sentenced Sharifi to two years and seven months, with a non-parole period of six months.
Due to the almost year Sharifi had already spent in custody and his good rehabilitation efforts, he was ordered to serve the sentence on home detention.
Daniel Scaife
A northern suburbs truck driver who ran a red light and crashed into a family’s car had 29 convictions for driving offences – and was busted drink driving after the near-fatal collision, a court has heard.
Daniel William Scaife, 47, from Smithfield, appeared in District Court in front of Judge Jane Schammer for sentencing after pleading guilty to five counts of causing harm by dangerous driving over the Para Hills crash in 2022.
Judge Schammer said it was “through sheer good fortune no one was killed” after one of his victims – Alan Mills, 77 – died on impact and was revived at the scene.
Mr Mills’ three grandchildren and his daughter, who were in the car, were all taken to hospital.
“There is no dispute that when your truck entered the intersection, the traffic lights applicable to you had been red for approximately five seconds,” she said.
“The reason you did not see those lights and continued to drive through the intersection was because you were distracted, looking at directions for your next delivery.
“Mr Mills sustained multiple life-threatening injuries (but) fortunately he received immediate care at the scene from a trauma doctor but was able to be revived.
“Jodie Mills (Mr Mills’ daughter) had to be cut free from her seatbelt and helped from the vehicle. Put simply, it was a miracle no one was killed in the impact.”
Scaife’s truck collided with the Mills family’s car at the intersection of Kester Rd and Bridge Rd on July 19.
Scaife was sentenced two years, ten months and seven days imprisonment with a non-parole period of 18 months, and disqualified from driving for 12 years.
“There is no dispute that when your truck entered the intersection, the traffic lights applicable to you had been red for approximately five seconds,” she said.
“The reason you did not see those lights and continued to drive through the intersection was because you were distracted, looking at directions for your next delivery.
“Mr Mills sustained multiple life-threatening injuries (but) fortunately he received immediate care at the scene from a trauma doctor but was able to be revived.
“Jodie Mills (Mr Mills’ daughter) had to be cut free from her seatbelt and helped from the vehicle. Put simply, it was a miracle no one was killed in the impact.”
Scaife’s truck collided with the Mills family’s car at the intersection of Kester Rd and Bridge Rd on July 19.
Scaife was sentenced two years, ten months and seven days imprisonment with a non-parole period of 18 months, and disqualified from driving for 12 years.
James Bodie
Shocking CCTV footage shows a pub patron falling to the ground and hitting his head on a pole after he was punched by a thug at a pub.
James Bodie, 28, was jailed after his victim lost the ability to live independently from the cowardly AFL Grand Final day attack.
During sentencing, the District Court heard Bodie and the victim were both patrons at the Cornucopia Hotel in Wallaroo on September 24, 2022.
CCTV footage shows the victim approaching Bodie and having a brief exchange with him before Bodie punches him to the head.
The victim, who was rendered unconscious by the strike, stumbles and Bodie pushes him in the chest, causing him to hit his head on a nearby pole as he falls to the ground.
Bodie then left the pub and walked away.
The court heard the victim was taken to the Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he was found to have suffered severe traumatic head injuries and a brain bleed.
The victim now suffers from short-term memory loss, balance issues, problems with concentration and a disturbed sleep pattern.
Bodie pleaded guilty to recklessly causing serious harm.
Judge Allen sentenced Bodie to three years and one month jail, with a non-parole period of one year and eight months.
Luke Collins
A meth-fuelled thug left a man unconscious and lying in a puddle of blood after his sickening attack in a Port Augusta street.
Luke James Collins, 27, was jailed for more than three years and warned to stay off the drugs after his “breathtaking brutality” was captured on video.
During sentencing, the District Court heard the victim had been out drinking at a friend’s house in Port Augusta on May 8, 2022.
He left the house about 9.30pm and started walking down Carlton Parade, where Collins lived.
The court heard the grossly intoxicated victim banged on the side of a car, kicked over a bin and kicked a fence.
“You came out of your house with a large stick and struck the victim across the back of his head so hard that the stick broke from the impact and the victim was knocked unconscious and fell on to the ground,” Judge Liesl Kudelka said.
Collins ran back to his house leaving the victim, whom he didn’t really know, lying in the middle of the road and bleeding from his face.
The victim, who was found in a puddle of blood on the road, was taken to hospital with a face fracture.
Collins pleaded guilty to causing harm with intent.
Judge Kudelka sentenced Collins to three years and 11 months jail, with a non-parole period of two years.
The sentence was backdated to May 3, 2023.
Deng Machok
An alleged gang member was jailed after stabbing a man twice in an alleyway off Hindley St.
Alleged Killa Block Squad member Deng Atem Machok, 21, was sentenced for the Operation Meld stabbing in January 2022 by Justice Julie McIntyre.
“Your victim came to the aid of two distressed women who were running away from you and your co-accused,” Justice McIntyre said.
“He told you to stop and you attacked him with kicks and punches to his body, he fell to the ground and you continued to assault him.”
During earlier hearings, the court was told Machok, of Kilburn, was among a group of men – which prosecutors had alleged were members of the Killa Block Squad gang – who targeted another unarmed man whose brother was alleged to be a member of rival gang 051.
The two groups of men clashed on Clubhouse Lane, just off Hindley St, about 12.50am on January 30, 2022.
The victim was found nearby on Blyth St suffering life threatening injuries and rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
CCTV released by the court shows Machok making his way towards the victim surrounded by a big group of males, and stabbing him twice to the chest with a knife – damaging his heart which required open heart surgery.
Machok was previously charged with attempted murder over the incident but after negotiations pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of aggravated recklessly causing serious harm.
Machok was sentenced to five years, nine months with a three year non parole period.
Tu Tran
A woman pretended she was blind before spraying a shop assistant with a chilli-based solution to steal a huge jewellery haul, a court heard.
Tu Cam Thi Tran, 43, was jailed for over five years after she committed the “brazen” thefts to clear her drug debt after being hounded by the syndicate.
During sentencing, the District Court heard Kim Tang and her husband Meng Heng were working at their Gawler Place jewellery store, Classic Jewellers on November 7, 2023.
The court heard Tran attended the store wearing sunglasses, a wig and a broadbrim hat and was carrying a cane.
“You told the shop assistant that you were blind,” Judge Emily Telfer said.
“You told her that you were looking to buy an 18-carat gold bracelet with a matching chain for a man.”
The court heard Mrs Tang let Tran handle the jewellery because she believed she had a vision impairment.
Tran then suddenly sprayed Mrs Tang in the face with a small bottle, causing her eyes to burn.
“You grabbed the whole tray of jewellery and ran out into James Place,” Judge Telfer said.
Mr Heng chased Tran down and she lunged at him and activated a taser, that did not connect.
Tran, of Unley, pleaded guilty to robbery and two counts of theft.
Tran was sentenced to five years and seven months jail, with a non-parole period of two years and eight months.
The sentence was backdated to November 7, 2023.
John Tsalapatis
A driver who killed a beloved teacher and cherished member of her family in a horror crash won’t spend any time behind bars, despite still taking no responsibility.
John Tsalapatis, 59, walked free from the District Court after he failed to give way at an intersection, killing Bernice Sternberg.
Tsalapatis was behind the wheel of a black Subaru heading west at the intersection and failed to give way, while travelling at about 80km/h.
The court heard Tsalapatis “T-boned” the Sternbergs’ Nissan Pulsar, with the point of impact to the front passenger side where Mrs Sternberg was seated.
The force of the impact pushed the Sternbergs’ car into the other lane, colliding head-on with a car Ben Moulton was driving, who had his teenage daughters as passengers.
Mr Moulton was not alleged to have engaged in any wrongdoing.
The court heard Mrs Sternberg had to be cut from the wreckage and underwent emergency surgery at the Flinders Medical Centre but died from her injuries five days later.
Tsalapatis was found guilty by a jury of causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing harm by dangerous driving after standing trial.
He is appealing the verdict.
Tsalapatis was sentenced to three years jail, with a non-parole period of two years and four months.
He was ordered to serve the sentence on home detention.
Tsalapatis was also disqualified from driving for 12 years.
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