Man slapped with prison terms for multiple no-shows at court
A man’s bizarre excuse for not turning up to court multiple times has earned him a prison term.
Police & Courts
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A man’s bizarre excuse for not turning up to court multiple times has earned him a prison term.
David Cesare Dagwell told police he had “lost faith” in the court system when police picked him up on warrants for failing to appear at court.
Dagwell pleaded guilty at Richlands Magistrates Court on Tuesday to two counts of failing to appear. He said he did not show cause for the offences.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Noel Pedersen told the court Dagwell was given a bail undertaking in August last year.
Dagwell failed to appear at court multiple times and warrants were issued for his arrest.
When arrested, he said he was “sick of the court system” and had “lost faith” in it, and his mental health was “not good” at the time.
Defence lawyer Rhys Foster said Dagwell suffered from severe anxiety and depression as a result of working in a hospital ICU and witnessing “trauma, including the death of young children”.
Magistrate Aaron Simpson said Dagwell’s actions “stifles the administration of justice”.
“I know you’ve got problems, but you didn’t even email the court,” Magistrate Simpson said.
Dagwell received prison terms of 14 days and 28 days for his two offences. Both terms were suspended for 12 months.
He will appear in court again on 30 September.