Andrew Stead faces Ringwood court again days after release for perjury
A Nunawading man who was freed from jail after pleading guilty to perjury has faced court again just days after his release. But to his credit he at least didn’t try to pin it on his brother this time.
East
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A man who assumed his brother’s identity to get out of criminal charges has found himself fronting court again after he reoffended just days after his release from prison.
Andrew Stead, 22, of Nunawading, faced the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to stealing clothes and headphones from shops at Westfield Knox a day earlier, as well as a selfie ring light and perfume from cars parked in Boronia in October.
Stead’s lawyer, Kyle McLaughlin, told the court his client’s latest offending came just four days after he was released from prison on Friday.
Stead was sentenced to eight months’ jail and a two-year community corrections order at the County Court on July 24 after attempting to plead guilty at the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court in October to petty theft charges using his brother’s name, Mr McLaughlin told the court.
Stead was remanded and charged by police under his brother’s name, according to a recording of last week’s County Court proceedings.
The ruse only came to an end after Stead turned up to court but was recognised by corrections staff who quickly established his real name, the County Court heard.
Stead was immediately released on Friday having already served almost nine months’ jail since his October arrest.
In sentencing Stead on Wednesday, Magistrate Tim Walsh said his latest charges before the court were “ridiculous”.
Mr Walsh convicted Stead and sentenced him to a 12-month community corrections order and ordered he complete 100 hours of community work.
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