Eleven shocking cases from Victorian courts this week
From setting a neighbour’s house on fire to bashing immigration detention officers, here’s some of what happened in Victorian courts this week.
Leader
Don't miss out on the headlines from Leader . Followed categories will be added to My News.
From setting a neighbour’s house on fire to bashing immigration detention officers, here’s some of what happened in Victorian courts this week.
Peter Andrew Tierney, Bendigo County Court
A Swan Hill dairy farmer raped a woman because he wanted a “quickie” to celebrate his birthday, a court has heard.
Peter Andrew Tierney, 53, pleaded guilty to one count of rape in the Bendigo County Court.
Find out what happened and read the full story here.
Renegade Tamarangi, Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court
A New Zealand thug stuck in immigration detention who was involved in the brutal bashing of several officers put their lives at risk, a court has heard.
Renegade Tamarangi, 35, pleaded guilty to obstructing a public official at the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Find out what he was sentenced and read the full story here.
Simon Whelan, Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court
A construction worker caught driving with cannabis in his system told a court he “thought he’d be in the clear”.
Simon Whelan pleaded guilty in Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to failing an oral fluid test after he was caught driving with drugs in his system.
Find out what he got and read the full story here.
Lucas Walters, Bendigo County Court
A meth-fuelled thief who stole three firearms from rural property while the owner was away overseas has been jailed.
Lucas Walters, 38, fronted the County Court in Bendigo for sentencing on Monday after earlier pleading guilty to charges of burglary, theft of firearm, theft and intentionally damaging property.
Find out how much jail time he got and read the full story here.
Luc Misenga, Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court
A Tarneit social worker caught driving while three times the alcohol limit has begged a court for a non-conviction.
Luc Misenga, 26, pleaded guilty in Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on March 19 to one charge of drink driving.
Find out what he was drinking to make him blow 0.153 and read the full story here.
Shaun O’Hara, Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court
A man who walked into a home and stole a Yamaha bike while menacing the owner with a metal rod also threatened a mechanic after he demanded the victim write him a cheque.
Shaun O’Hara, 50, fronted the Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday via video link from prison, where he pleaded guilty to a string of charges relating to stealing a motor vehicle, extortion and making threats to kill.
Find out what he said to the worker and read the full story here.
Clint Bellingham, Melbourne County Court
A drunken thug who nearly killed a partygoer by thrusting a glass into the victim’s throat and later claimed it was in self defence has been jailed.
Clint Bellingham, 33, of Dandenong, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing serious injury recklessly and appeared for sentencing in the County Court in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Find out how much jail time he got and read the full story here.
Jason Arthur Garvey, Shepparton Magistrates’ Court
The mother of a Rushworth man whose life has been plagued by crime and stints behind bars has delivered an emotional spiel in court as he was sentenced to another stint in jail.
Jason Arthur Garvey, who appeared in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday via video link from prison, was sentenced to 14 months’ prison for a raft of charges including drug trafficking and theft of a motor vehicle.
Find out what his mother said in an effort to help him and read the full story here.
Matthew Lang, Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court
A construction worker caught driving with almost triple the legal limit of alcohol in his system also returned a positive drug test.
Matthew Lang, 26, pleaded guilty in Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to one charge of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Find out why he was driving and read the full story here.
Robert Larson, County Court
An unemployed Bendigo man engaged in a long-running war of words with neighbours attempted twice in one night to burn down the house of one of his foes.
Robert William Larson, 56, of Golden Square, appeared in the County Court after he used natural firelighters to set fire to the wood below the window on the front of a weatherboard house.
Find out what happened and read the full story here.
Sione Vaivao, Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court
A boozy registered sex offender has been told to stay off the wine and away from Melbourne’s CBD.
Sione Vaivao, 61, appeared at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court via video link from prison on Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty to contravening a probation order by consuming and possessing alcohol.
Find out what he was sentenced and read the full story here.
‘Reckless policy’: Vic government stamp duty play a ‘trap’ for buyers
The Victorian government’s plan to discount stamp duty costs for off-the-plan unit purchases has been slammed as “reckless policy” destined to hurt some homebuyers.
Real estate guru’s Vic hotspot suburbs for 2025
The head of one of Australia’s biggest real estate firms believes Victoria’s property woes will improve in the new year, and he’s found the areas that will get the best of it. Find out where.