Revealed: Worst drug users in the Bass Coast
Whether it’s possessing meth, growing cannabis or trafficking other substances, these are the Bass Coast crooks who have been punished for drug-related crimes.
Bass Coast News
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Whether it’s possessing methamphetamine, growing cannabis or trafficking other substances, Bass Coast is home to many drug users.
As one magistrate said, the “level of criminality that is arising from drug use within the regions is escalating”.
Here are the crooks on the coast who have been punished for their drug-related crimes.
Jake Goodwin
An Almurta man who was busted with drugs, and assaulted multiple people, blamed his offending on his “out of control” life.
Goodwin was sentenced to 120 days imprisonment, fined $500 and his licence was cancelled and disqualified for six months in May.
Jake Goodwin, 23, pleaded guilty at Korumburra Magistrates’ Court to charges including possessing cannabis, unlawful assault and intentionally damaging property.
The court heard Goodwin and a woman got into a verbal and physical confrontation at an Almurta house near Glen Forbes in January 2021.
Goodwin grabbed the victim’s arms causing bruising and marks on the woman’s body.
Neighbours who heard the dispute, phoned police but Goodwin had already left by the time officers arrived.
In September 2020, police searched Goodwin’s home where two small amounts of cannabis were found in the family room and bedroom.
Goodwin’s lawyer Adrienna Kisvarda said the father-of-one started smoking cannabis and methamphetamine, taking Xanax tablets and drinking alcohol when he was 14 years old.
“Following a stillbirth in 2020 and the post natal depression of his partner, he began using methamphetamine again to cope with the loss,” Ms Kisvarda said.
“He started to spiral out of control, his drug use increased and he was unable to cope with the issues with his family.”
Joshua Moulder
A Wonthaggi man who caused a serious crash that left a prominent Gippsland lawyer hospitalised blamed his offending on his drug addiction.
Joshua Moulder, 30, pleaded guilty at Korumburra Magistrates’ Court on May 19 to multiple charges including dangerous driving, refusing to undergo a drug test and possessing a prohibited weapon, ice and ecstasy.
The court heard witnesses saw Moulder driving erratically in Yarragon on February 15, 2020.
He failed to stop at traffic lights and ran into the rear of a car that was stationary.
Moulder appeared to be affected by drugs and was confrontational towards police when they arrived at the scene.
Police searched his car and found knuckle dusters, ice and ecstasy.
Moulder was sentenced to six months imprisonment and had his licence cancelled and disqualified for three years.
He was also fined $1500.
Michael White
A San Remo man who crashed a stolen motorbike into a McDonald’s drive-through before vomiting on himself was jailed in January for his drug-fuelled antics.
Michael White, 28, pleaded guilty at Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court to charges including theft, drug-driving, dangerous driving, speeding, driving while disqualified and using a fraudulent number plate.
The court heard police saw White riding a stolen motorbike on the South Gippsland Highway in Korumburra on July 16, 2020.
He was estimated at doing 80km/h in a 60km/h zone after overtaking a heavy vehicle.
White entered the 50km/h Korumburra CBD but, after seeing police, he increased his speed to more than 100km/h.
White continued to ride at high speeds in the residential streets of Korumburra.
Police eventually caught up with White, finding cocaine on him in a small zip-lock bag.
The court also heard White also drove a motorbike into a McDonald’s drive-through in Leongatha on August 12, 2020.
The court heard he appeared heavily substance-affected.
The presence of methamphetamine was later confirmed but White denied taking the drug in a police interview.
Magistrate Belinda Wallington sentenced White to six months in prison.
White was also fined $500 and his licence was disqualified for 12 months.
Michael Hood
A Cape Woolamai drug user chased a terrified woman in her car before ramming it twice — trapping her inside — metres from Grantville’s shopping precinct.
Michael Hood, 28, pleaded guilty to a string of driving, drug and damaging property charges at Korumburra Magistrates’ Court on July 28.
The court heard Hood followed the victim in her car on the Bass Highway on February 19 2021.
The victim turned into Grantville’s shopping precinct before getting out in a distressed state.
Hood followed her to the car park before she ran back to her car.
The court heard he chased her in his vehicle around the shopping precinct four times with pedestrians and other vehicles nearby.
Hood then rammed her car, causing significant damage.
The woman managed to drive off but Hood followed and rammed her a second time.
This trapped the woman, pinning her inside the vehicle.
Hood got out of his car and screamed at the victim to open her doors before attempting to open them himself.
He then drove away from the area and the woman was helped by others nearby.
Hood’s lawyer Elise Anselma said the man was remorseful.
She also said there was a correlation between Hood’s drug use and behaviour.
Hood was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment with a non-parole period of 12 months.
His licence was disqualified for six months and he received a $1200 fine.
Todd Lewis
A Kilcunda drug dealer who was busted with a haul of ice wailed in court after he was sentenced to jail.
Todd Lewis, 43, was sentenced at Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on September 8 after pleading guilty to multiple charges including possessing and trafficking drugs and negligently dealing with proceeds of crime.
The court heard police searched Lewis’ property in Kilcunda on September 1 this year and found $100 and a mobile phone with multiple messages referring to trafficking methamphetamine.
Police also found a plastic bag containing six magic mushroom pills and three zip lock bags containing 26g of methamphetamine, 1g of methamphetamine and magic mushroom powder.
All drugs were found in a hollow WD40 can.
Another 14g of methamphetamine, $490 in cash and a firework were uncovered on the property on May 6.
Lewis’ lawyer Pavithra Jayasekera said the man had only turned to drugs because his rendering business was crippled by the pandemic.
Lewis was sentenced to two months in prison with a community corrections order for a period of 12 months.
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