Brody Harris, Jarrod Cakebread: Ballarat men jailed over ‘criminal rampage’

Two young thugs have been jailed over a “terrifying” crime spree in Ballarat that saw more than 10 cars stolen and one man stabbed.

Two Ballarat thugs have been jailed over a “criminal rampage” that saw more than 10 cars stolen and one man stabbed, a court has heard.

Brody Harris, 23, and Jarrod Cakebread, 22, were sentenced in the Melbourne County Court after they earlier pleaded guilty to a series of violent thefts and police chases in May 2020.

The spree lasted a few months and included stealing cars, fuel and number plates, then using the stolen cars to ram another vehicle.

In May 2020, the men and a co-accused stole a Ford Ranger before they saw a man they believed owed them money so chased the car and rammed it at high-speed.

The trio then got out and shattered the car’s window before there was a stand-off between the group and one man, the co-accused, was stabbed.

Police said the trio was also involved in further car thefts over the next few days before being arrested in Point Cook where they tried to dump one of the stolen cars.

Judge Trevor Wraight said the actions were inexcusable.

“It would have been a terrifying experience for those in the car,” he said.

“You together with others were on a criminal rampage over a two-week period ... one of the victims is riddled with anger and anxiety, he is worried about safety and security, and had to change the locks.”

Cakebread pleaded guilty to 14 charges of theft, two charges of attempted theft, armed robbery, and conduct endangering a person.

Harris pleaded guilty to one charge of theft, one charge of conduct endangering life, robbery and unlicensed driving.

Cakebread was sentenced to four years and one month in prison, while Harris was sentenced to three years and two months.