Tyson Aguis, Ashley Gunaratnam, Jacob Kane: Crimes that shocked the Bass Coast in 2021

From a Gippsland footballer who sexually assaulted a teenage girl to an L plater who caused a horrific crash and left his mates to die, these are the crimes that rocked the Bass Coast in 2021.

From a Gippsland footy player who sexually assaulted a teenage girl to a concreter who admitted to penetrating a 13-year-old, these are some of the crimes that shocked the region in 2021.

Bass Coast’s overall crime rate increased by 11.4 per cent in 2021 compared to the previous year.

One learner driver was sentenced to jail after he caused a horrific crash and left his mates to die.

Another man was sentenced to jail after he bashed his uncle who allegedly got off “scot-free” for sexually abusing his daughter.

These are some of the cases that appeared before Bass Coast courts last year.

Ashley Gunaratnam

Ashley ‘Choco’ Gunaratnam, 31, was sentenced for charges of sexual penetration of a child under 16

A Gippsland concreter exposed as a child sex fiend after he admitted penetrating a 13-year-old girl was jailed for two years.

Ashley ‘Choco’ Gunaratnam, 31, was sentenced in the County Court to a minimum two years and three months’ jail after pleading guilty to sexual penetration of a child under 16.

Gunaratnam violated his underage victim multiple times in various Gippsland locations, the court was told.

Gunaratnam met his victim at a party then messaged the girl about having sex for the first time.

The fiend later had sex with his victim but she asked him to stop.

Gunaratnam also assaulted the victim in his Toyota Hilux.

On another occasion, Gunaratnam pushed the girl onto a bed and violated her while not wearing a condom after the victim said she wasn’t interested in having sex.

Gunaratnam denied any wrongdoing, telling his ex-partner the girl was “being disgusting”.

Alarm bells were raised after Gunaratnam’s ex-partner found a used condom.

Gunaratnam was made a registered sex offender for life.

Jacob Kane

A former “talented” Gippsland footballer who sexually violated a teenage schoolgirl was jailed for five years over his horrific offending.

Jacob Kane, 28, was sentenced in the Shepparton County Court to a minimum three years’ jail after pleading guilty to persistent sexual abuse of a child under 16.

Kane sexually penetrated his 14-year-old victim after communicating with the girl via social media.

The court heard he believed his victim was 17 and asked her if she was “ok” with the sexual intercourse.

Kane later admitted transmitting naked images of his victim.

The 28-year-old, who also pleaded guilty to possession of child porn, abused meth but hit rock bottom when a friend died after using a bad batch of ice.

The former footballer, who will be a registered sex offender for life, received a five-year jail term.

Bradley Roberts

A Gippsland man who claimed booze and prescription medication made him “more aggressive” fled to Queensland after he raped a woman.

Bradley Roberts, 34, was sentenced in the County Court to a minimum four years’ and three months’ jail after pleading guilty to charges including rape.

Roberts raped his victim after consuming alcohol and prescription medication in early-2017, the court was told.

The plasterer cornered and pounced on his victim but she yelled “stop” and “get off me”.

Roberts then forcibly removed his victim’s pants and held her arm over her head.

The depraved dad then removed his pants and raped his victim.

The traumatised woman managed to break Roberts’ clutches but he attempted to pull her back.

The victim, who constantly yelled “stop” during the savage attack, managed to escape Roberts.

Roberts, who also worked as a concreter, fled to Queensland where he was arrested in July 2018.

Judge John Smallwood jailed Roberts for a maximum seven years and six months.

Tyson Agius

Tyson Agius crashed his car then fled the scene

A learner driver who left his mates to die after “driving like an idiot” and causing a horror crash that left his friend a quadriplegic was sentenced to four years in a youth justice centre.

Tyson Agius, 19 of Gippsland, pleaded guilty to one count of endangering life and one count of negligently causing serious injury in the County Court on June 16.

Agius lost control of his car after attempting a manoeuvre to provoke an “adrenaline rush” but instead, hit a tree and left one friend quadriplegic.

The court heard the victim was stuck in the rear seat, couldn’t feel his arms and legs, and screamed repeatedly: “I’m going to die”.

Agius fled the scene and continued to remain scarce until police found him hidden under a bed at his mum’s place over three hours later.

Agius was also fined $300 for the summary offence and his licence was disqualified for a period of four years.

Gippsland dad jailed after bashing daughter’s attacker

A Gippsland father who bashed his uncle after finding out he allegedly sexually assaulted his preschool-aged daughter was jailed for two years.

The 35-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was thrown behind bars for two years and four months in County Court after he earlier pleaded guilty to assault and burglary.

The court heard the man’s wife called him in tears earlier this year saying their daughter’s case had been dropped.

She said there were “complexities” involved and she did not want their daughter to have to testify.

The father then drove 20km to his uncle’s home and bashed him.

During the attack the accused said: “You don’t deserve to breathe, you piece of sh*t” and “You’re lucky I don’t kill you”.

The father later told police he wanted his uncle to know he had not got away with assaulting his daughter despite getting off “pretty much scot-free”.

Judge Peter Kidd said he was acting “human” but his behaviour was “inexcusable”.

“You were acting on the parental instinct out of fury of a wrong you believed to be committed against your child,” he said.

Jessica Weatherall

Jessica Weatherall, 27, was stopped by police for driving 140km/h in a 60km/h zone

A Cape Woolamai mum, who lost her husband in a car crash and mum to suicide, was busted hooning dangerously above the speed limit in Phillip Island.

Jessica Weatherall, 27, pleaded guilty at Korumburra Magistrates Court on April 28 to charges including possessing a drug of dependence, speeding, possessing a prohibited weapon, driving without P-plates and trafficking methamphetamine.

The court heard Weatherall was busted by police driving above the 60km/h limit at 140km/h on Church St, Cowes at 3am on January 1, 2021.

When police searched Weatherall’s car, they found a ziplock bag containing methamphetamine, knuckle dusters and a knife.

The court heard police previously searched Weatherall’s house and found a flick knife, taser, four hunting knives, five watches and four ziplock bags with one containing a small amount of ice on September 22.

Reginald Edwards

A Gippsland man assaulted his victim with a cushion, a bottle of soft drink and his fists over cash and drugs, a court has heard.

Reginald Edwards, 34, was sentenced to eight months jail in the County Court after he earlier pleaded guilty to charges of armed robbery and intentionally causing injury.

The court heard on March 18, 2021, Reginald Edwards, 34, and friend beat and stole from a man on his property, after being asked to leave in search of “drugs” and “money”.

CCTV footage from the victim’s property shows the “unsavoury” attack which led to judge Michael McInerney handing down the jail term and a two-year community corrections order.

Edwards was seen holding a metal jemmy bar throughout the duration of time he was at the property.

Jake Goodwin

An Almurta man who was busted with drugs, and assaulted multiple people, blamed his offending on his “out of control” life.

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.

In July 2020, Goodwin had an argument with another victim.

They began pushing and shoving one another which resulted in the victim sustaining injuries to her mouth.

The court heard police arrested Goodwin and took him to a station where he became aggressive and abusive towards them.

Goodwin left the station on his own accord and went back to a property where he smashed holes in the walls and yelled abuse at his victim.

He was sentenced to 120 days imprisonment, licence cancelled and disqualified for six months and fined $500.