Levi Perry handed corrections order after pleading to theft, driving offences
A magistrate has warned a young thief who sold his stepmother’s wedding ring for $700 that drugs will “ruin” his life if he let them.
A magistrate has given a young thief a second chance at avoiding jail, but warned him drugs had the potential to ruin his life.
Levi Perry, 22, appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to 15 charges including theft, burglary, obtaining property by deception, car theft, attempted car theft, driving while disqualified, failing to stop on police direction, failing to stop after an accident and possessing a prohibited weapon (knuckledusters).
Magistrate Tim Gattuso convicted Perry and placed him on a 15-month community corrections order (CCO), noting that although he had a “number of priors” Perry was at a turning point.
“You’re young enough you can make some important decisions now in your life … but you’ve got to serve the penalty for what you’ve done,” Mr Gattuso said.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Cody Ogston told the court that in February, Perry’s stepmother noticed her 18-karat gold wedding ring, valued at up to $6000 was missing.
After turning “the house upside down” looking for it, she asked Perry if he knew where it was when he visited in early March.
Perry admitted he’d taken her ring “ages ago” and it would be at Cash Converters, where the court heard he’d sold it for $700.
Mr Gattuso said it was “very lucky” police were able to recover the ring.
In another incident, a wallet dropped near a stolen car and DNA on a Pepsi can in the boot of another led police to Perry in November last year.
Perry had tried to steal a car parked at a Grovedale address, before stealing items from another, leaving a Pepsi can in the boot, and fleeing in a third car at the address.
Perry also pleaded guilty to a number of other incidents across 2025 and another in December 2024, in which he reversed a rental car into the front of a parked Ford Ranger in a shopping centre carpark.
Perry’s lawyer, Alex Loftgood, told the court Perry was determined to kick his drug habit and had completed three months of residential rehab in Bendigo through the Salvation Army.
Mr Loftgood said Perry started using ice as a teenager, but had still managed a solid work history for several years.
But when work dried up the “wheels feel off” and he began using drugs again, the court heard.
Mr Loftgood asked the court impose a new community corrections order with a rehabilitative focus.
Perry had contravened a community work-only CCO he was placed on in February.
Mr Gattuso gave Perry a stern warning as he ordered him reassessed by Corrections Victoria.
“Mr Perry, drugs will ruin your life unless you remove them from your life,” he said.
“You’re at the age where you still have the chance for a meaningful life.”
He said there were a number of matters in Perry’s favour, including his work history, the fact he was willing spend months in rehab and the continuing support of his family.
“A lot of people don’t come here with family support … you’ve got people who are prepared to give you another chance,” Mr Gattuso said.
Alongside the new order, Perry’s original CCO was extended for eight-months, and across the two orders he must complete just over 157 hours of community work.
Perry was also disqualified from driving for six months.
Originally published as Levi Perry handed corrections order after pleading to theft, driving offences
