Leopold man Delroy Francois jailed for four years over carjacking

Likened to a “thug in a B-grade movie” by a judge, a Leopold man has been jailed after he carjacked a woman using a 17.5cm hunting knife.

Geelong man Delroy Francois fronted the County Court in Melbourne on Friday. Picture: Facebook

A Geelong “thug” who carjacked a woman at knifepoint claimed he committed the crime because he wanted to be reunited with his dad in jail.

Delroy Francois, 20, appeared in the County Court in Melbourne on Friday to be sentenced by Judge Gabrielle Cannon after earlier pleading guilty to one count of aggravated carjacking.

Judge Cannon sentenced Francois to four years in jail with a non-parole period of three years.

On February 16 this year, the female victim, who was working as a marketing assistant for a real estate agency, was driving along Rockley Rd in South Yarra about 1pm when the offending occurred.

As the woman performed a U-turn, a black Holden wagon pulled up and partially blocked the road.

Francois, wearing a black balaclava, then got out of the driver’s side of the wagon and started waving a 17.5cm hunting knife at the victim, yelling at her to get out of the car.

The woman then sought help from a nearby home before Francois drove off in her car.

He was arrested a short time later in Richmond with the hunting knife hidden in the waistband of his pants.

Police seized the knife from him as well as property keys belonging to the real estate agency and two mobile phones.

He was taken to Prahran police station where he initially denied the offending and told police he had only been released from jail a week prior.

Francois told police he bought the balaclava from Sexyland before admitting to the crime, telling officers: “I f--ked up, I wasn’t thinking, I was f--king starving.

“We had no money … I did what I had to do to feed my girlfriend,” he said.

“Just forget about the f--kin’ whole story.

“Yes, it’s me … all I did was just try to lie about it so I could get out tonight and be there for my girlfriend.”

In a letter tendered to the court written by Francois, he said he committed the offence because he wanted to go to prison to see his father as he thought his girlfriend had been cheating on him.

He also told medical staff he had the “time of his life” when he previously spent time with his dad while they were in jail together.

Judge Cannon described Francois’ crime as “brazen” and “serious”.

“You behaved in an outrageous and terrifying way towards a member of the public who was doing no more than trying to earn an honest living,” she said.

“You blocked her off in your car like you were a thug in a B-grade movie.”

Judge Cannon accepted Francois was remorseful for his actions.

“I hope you understand the very real and drastic impact … this had on this young woman,” she said.

Had Francois not pleaded guilty, he would have been sentenced to six years and six months behind bars.

Francois has spent 287 days in custody which will be reckoned as time served.

Originally published as Leopold man Delroy Francois jailed for four years over carjacking