Sentencing for Mendo Vrskovski delayed over fears he won’t receive healthcare in jail

The loved ones of a Brunswick West cyclist hit and killed by a tow truck driver more than two years ago are still waiting for justice.

The County Court has heard some Victorian prisoners could wait up to six months for ongoing and intensive psychological care.

A tow truck driver who pleaded guilty to killing a man in Melbourne’s north eight months ago is yet to be sentenced over fears he won’t receive the healthcare he needs in prison.

Mendo Vrskovski hit and killed Brunswick West cyclist Ben Fryer in Pascoe Vale in April 2022.

Vrskovski pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death in November 2023 and was expected to be sentenced to prison with a non-parole period.

However, he won’t be sentenced for at least another four months after County Court Judge Duncan Allen on Friday adjourned the matter over doubts Vrskovski would receive the psychological and physical treatment he needs while incarcerated.

Despite wanting Mr Fryer’s family to be able to “close this chapter of a very sad book”, Judge Allen adjourned the matter until November 18 so Vrskovski could complete his treatment.

Ben Fryer was hit by a tow truck while on his bicycle at Pascoe Vale by driver Mendo Vrskovski on April 12, 2022.

During the hearing Judge Allen questioned Justice Health clinical director Jackie Ashmore – who was called as a witness – about the state of prison healthcare.

The court heard drug and alcohol treatment provider Caraniche, which had been involved with the justice system for three decades, was recently “removed” and replaced by a different provider, understood to be GEO Healthcare.

The GEO group runs Fulham and Ravenhall Correctional Centres and its healthcare subsidiary provides services at all men’s public prisons.

Judge Allen also referenced funding cuts for psychological treatment providers, but Ms Ashmore said Corrections Victoria’s mental health program was funded to cover all of the state’s jails and there had been no cuts to Forensicare, which offers “secondary mental health services” at all public prisons.

Judge Allen said he was “far from satisfied” Vrskovski (not pictured) would receive adequate care in prison if he were jailed immediately.

Nevertheless, Judge Allen recalled a previous case in which a prisoner-patient was “placed on a wait list” for intensive ongoing psychological care.

Three months passed without him receiving treatment, the court heard.

Ms Ashmore said that was “fairly common” and that wait times could be between three to six months depending on individual assessments and triaging.

She said prisoners could access private care at their own cost if they were assessed by the principal medical officer, approved, and Corrections Victoria was happy with security arrangements.

But she said that in 12 months of being in her role, she was aware of only one case of a psychiatrist coming to a prison to provide private cognitive behaviour therapy.

Judge Allen then spoke of a man with chronic pain who was receiving intensive psychotherapy before he entered prison and, once inside, was seen just twice in four months.

Even then, he was told only to do his exercises in his cell.

The court heard a third appointment was made for the man on the day of a plea hearing, but it was cancelled because the man had to meet his lawyers.

Ms Ashmore said that Vrskovski, who required weekly physiotherapy sessions for some coming months, would, if jailed, be assessed and provided treatment as per national standards, with which the prisons must comply.

But Judge Allen refuted the assertion, saying that he found “as a fact in the other case that they had not compiled with that”.

He said he was frustrated with “the system generally” and “the problems that is has currently to deal with some of these issues”.

Feeling “far from satisfied” Vrskovski would receive his required treatment in jail, Judge Allen adjourned the matter until November 18 so Vrskovski could complete his treatment.

Corrections Victoria did not respond to a request for comment.

Originally published as Sentencing for Mendo Vrskovski delayed over fears he won’t receive healthcare in jail