Bad Victorian tradies: Patrick Simpkins, Sean Padget, Mathew Raku Raku, Heath Ross at court
Don’t go where the tradies go because some of these Victorian tradesmen went off the rails and got banged up in the slammer. See the list.
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Tradies hold a reputation as people of honour and pillars of the community who can be trusted and relied upon but it’s not always the case, as this list of crooked Victorian tradies shows.
A sicko sparky joins a rapist mechanic, a brawler Metro tunnel subbie, an intruder chippy and a child-grooming brickie to have their criminal deeds boxed off at court.
CHIPPY INTRUDER
A rope-wielding, semi-masked Mt Evelyn carpenter caused a young woman to fear she would be sexually assaulted after he crept into her bedroom, a court has heard.
Patrick Simpkins, who pleaded guilty in the County Court in November to aggravated burglary, snuck into his victim’s Ashwood home early on March 15 2020.
Simpkins removed a flyscreen, climbed through a window, crept to the woman’s bedroom and rifled through her wardrobe where he found lingerie and some rope.
The victim woke to find Simpkins crouched at the foot of her bed with the rope doubled over and with a bandana covering the bottom half of his face.
“What the f---,” the victim said three times.
Simpkins, shirtless and still holding the rope, walked towards the victim on his tip toes while looking at her.
The court heard the victim believed Simpkins would “pounce on her” and feared she would be attacked or “sexually assaulted”.
Simpkins remained at the head of her bed and staring at her.
The victim, who told Simpkins to leave, feared her intruder was again “getting ready to pounce” after he remained in the room.
Simpkins, who stumbled out of the room and fled the house, handed himself into police the following month after he was caught on CCTV fleeing the property.
In her victim impact statement read to the court, the young woman said the ordeal was “really scary”.
“I was on high alert 24/7 and it was so exhausting …,” she said.
“I was terrified he would do something else …
“The memory of him laying the things out the way he did felt like a personal attack.
“I woke up on the night, (with Simpkins) in a red bandana, staring at me with wild red eyes … it is an image that is burnt into my memory … it’s horrible …
“I don’t know if I will ever forget the image of his masked face, and I don’t know if I will ever truly feel safe in my own home again.”
The court heard Simpkins grew up in Melbourne’s outer east and worked as a self-employed carpenter.
Judge Douglas Trapnell denounced Simpkins’ offending and the “stupid idiotic men” who enter women’s homes uninvited.
“To say this is low-level (offending) is ludicrous quite frankly …,” Judge Trapnell said.
“To break into a woman’s home in the middle of the night and do what he did with the intent to do what he did is serious offending and I don’t think he understands that …”
METRO TUNNEL PIZZA HUT MAD DOG
A Melbourne street hood who picked a fight with a stranger during a St Kilda booze session was the one who ended up in hospital, despite pushing his victim through a window.
Sean Padget was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in January to a 12-month community correction order after pleading guilty to recklessly causing injury and affray.
Padget flew off the handle while walking along Fitzroy St following a “five or six” hour drinking session late on October 30, 2020.
Padget’s companion made repeated attempts to get his intoxicated mate home after the pair had boozed on at numerous St Kilda venues, the court was told.
The court heard CCTV depicted an “intoxicated” Padget walking along Fitzroy St “unsteady on his feet”.
CCTV footage also depicted Padget “fronting up” to multiple people with his poor mate forced to ”step in” numerous times to “stop anything happening”.
Padget yelled at two people as they entered the Fitzroy St Pizza Hut.
The duo exited the Pizza Hut about 10 minutes later when the victim asked Padget which venue they were headed to next.
Padget, who became enraged and aggressive, ripped off his shirt and took off his shoes.
Padget’s mate attempted to pull his mad-dog buddy away.
The duo also told Padget to move on because they “didn’t want any trouble”.
Padget lunged at his victim, grabbed his neck and smashed him through the Pizza Hut window.
Despite suffering lacerations, the victim wrestled Padget to the ground, overpowered him and punched his attacker’s face numerous times.
Padget and his victim were pulled away from each other.
Padget, who also pleaded guilty to wilful damage, stood up and picked fights with other passers-by, the court was told.
The court heard Padget was employed as a Metro Tunnel Project concreter and has decreased his alcohol consumption.
Magistrate Joanne Metcalfe said Padget committed “appalling behaviour”.
“You’ve essentially picked a fight with two people in the street … it was an unprovoked incident …,” Magistrate Metcalfe said.
Padget was convicted and ordered to perform unpaid community work.
THE CANNABIS GROWER PLUMBER AND HIS AFL MATE
A drug-trafficking plumber has avoided a jail stint after he was given a glowing reference from AFL premiership star Brandon Ellis.
Cassius Canfield was sentenced in the County Court last July to a three-year Community Correction Order after pleading guilty to cultivating and trafficking cannabis.
Canfield, who was also supported in court by his fiance Tarryn Macklin, was busted at his rented Keilor East home early on February 27 last year.
Investigators discovered a hydroponic set up with eight plants growing in the rear garage of the Wunnamurra Drive house.
Police also seized almost 3kg of harvested and loose cannabis, more than 60g of speed, some cocaine and heroin, deal bags, 11 mobile phones, computers and $12,650 cash.
Police also raided Canfield’s Keilor East factory where they discovered a second hydroponic set up with six plants weighing almost 20kg.
Canfield, who also pleaded guilty to theft of electricity, was arrested, charged and bailed.
The court heard Canfield is a qualified plumber and co-director of heating and aircon company Brofield Group.
Ellis, a top-flight Gold Coast Suns defender, joined the virtual court link for his pal at last year’s plea hearing after tendering a reference backing Canfield.
Judge Michael Cahill said Ellis knew Canfield from a young age and the former Richmond premiership hero was confident his mate would commit no further “wrongdoing”.
Canfield must also serve 250 hours of community work and undertake drug treatment.
SICKO SPARKIE
A Victorian electrician who sexually assaulted a child multiple times, leaving his victim with mental health issues, has been jailed.
Heath Ross was sentenced in the County Court last May to a minimum three years and three months after pleading guilty to multiple rolled-up charges of sexual penetration of a child under 16.
Ross was 22 when he commenced his offending against his 14-year-old victim.
The court heard the pair messaged each other via Facebook after meeting at a function in 2011.
”Have you done anything before?,” Ross asked his victim.
The girl said she hadn’t contemplated sex but would consider “making out”.
“What about other stuff,” Ross said.
Ross sexually penetrated his victim in various locations multiple times over a 14-month period, and did not use a condom.
A lewd assault occurred after Ross had just finished soccer training.
The court heard Ross led the girl away from “other men” just after their training session had ended.
“Follow me,” Ross said.
He took the girl to a secluded spot at the ground and assaulted her.
In another incident Ross had anal sex with the girl which left the victim with injuries.
The victim also vomited after Ross made her perform oral sex during another incident.
Ross told the girl he thought his girlfriend was “suspicious” but he continued to assault his victim.
In another incident Ross made the girl give him oral sex and he ejaculated in her mouth.
“Good job,” Ross told his victim.
In her victim impact statement, the girl said she was “living a normal life until” Ross came “into her life”.
The victim said Ross stole her “independence, innocence and self-esteem”
She said she “felt ashamed” but figured that’s what relationships were about.
The victim said Ross taught her what “he wanted”.
The victim also suffered “emotional trauma” which led to physical and mental health issues.
Ross was interviewed by police in 2013 but wasn’t arrested until last year.
The court heard Ross was a “dedicated” father of two who came from a good family.
Ross started his electrician business Get Sparked Electrical about 10 years ago after leaving Bendigo Secondary College, the court was told.
The court heard Ross, via his business, sponsored several community organisations.
“You exploited her for your selfish, carnal satisfaction,” Judge Michael Cahill said.
“You were well aware it was wrong.”
Ross, who was made a registered sex offender for life, was jailed for a maximum six years and three months jail.
CHILD GROOMER BRICKIE
A sobbing Lower Plenty bricklayer who flew to Manila to meet a 13-year-old girl he had groomed for sex has avoided a lengthy jail term.
Dean Aitchison was sentenced in the County Court last April to three months’ jail after pleading guilty to groom a child to engage in sexual activity outside of Australia.
Aitchison was intercepted at Melbourne Airport after flying home from Manila in April 2019.
Authorities, who quizzed Aitchison and searched his mobile phone and a storage device, discovered Facebook Messenger chats between him and a Filipino child.
The chats included images of the child in her underwear and semi-naked photos of Aitchison, the court heard.
Authorities also discovered images of Aitchison with other Filipino children and adults taken inside a hotel room.
Aitchison gave a “no comment” interview and was released without charge.
However, Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team investigators raided Aitchison’s Lower Plenty home in December 2019.
Police, who seized and gained access to various devices, discovered more Messenger chats between Aitchison and others including a Filipino adult known to the victim.
Aitchison told police his victim loved him and he loved her.
“So I’ve been sending some money to her … help out there,” Aitchison said.
Bank records revealed Aitchison transferred $23,041 to the Philippines between December 2018 and December 2019.
Judge Duncan Allen said there was an “appalling atrociousness” to the offending.
“ (Aitchison targeted) a vulnerable impoverished young Filipino girl desperate for money,” Judge Allen said.
Aitchison, who was made a registered sex offender for 15 years, was jailed for a maximum two years and nine months but was released on a 33-month good behaviour bond after serving three months.
MECHANIC RAPIST
A Mornington Peninsula mechanic who snatched a woman off the street, held her captive and then raped her has been jailed.
Mathew Raku Raku was sentenced in the County Court on in June to a minimum six years’ jail after pleading guilty to charges including two counts of rape, kidnapping and making threats to kill.
Raku Raku grabbed his victim from a Seaford street and threw her into his car about 6pm on August 12, 2019.
He held a screwdriver to her head, locked the car doors, took her phone and told her that if she tried to get out of the car she would be dead, the court heard.
Raku Raku then drove the woman about four hours to Glenthompson while continually threatening her, and stole petrol on the way.
The fiend told his victim she was going to get a bullet in her head and threatened to cut off her tongue, dangle her off the side of a bridge by her feet, break her legs and tie her up by a choker chain and cable ties if she tried to run away.
The court heard the terrified victim believed she was going to be killed.
When they arrived at an empty house the victim lay by a heater to try to get warm and Raku Raku joined her.
He then raped her despite her efforts to push him off.
The following day he took her to visit a friend for several hours.
When they got back to the house, he told her they were staying in the car that night because the house was too cold.
They were sitting in the car when he broke down and said he couldn’t get done for kidnapping.
Raku Raku then put his hand around her throat and raped her
The court heard the Capel Sound mechanic, who was unemployed at the time of the offending, was brought up in a “loving family”.
Judge Paul Higham, one of the court’s most experienced judge when dealing with sex offenders, jailed Raku Raku for a maximum nine years and eight months.
BIG RIG TRADIE’S DEPLORABLE DRIVING RECORD
A South Morang unit who caused a collision, almost ran a cyclist and a motorist off the road and stonewalled police when his booze-stenched car was found wrapped around a tree has lost his licence.
Siotame Kavapalu was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last April to a $3000 fine and conviction after pleading guilty to raft of driving offences including drink driving, speeding and dangerous driving.
Kavapalu’s protracted period of road madness included multiple incidents which occurred between June 2019 and May 2020.
Police intercepted Kavapalu in the drive thru at the Club Hotel in Ferntree Gully after they spotted the dad drive quickly over lanes of traffic in May 2020.
Officers who spoke to Kavapalu said his breath smelled “strongly of intoxicating liquor” and he was slurring his words.
Kavapalu refused a breath test then abused police.
“F--- you man,” Kavapalu said.
“Go f--- yourself.”
Police called for back-up after fearing Kavapalu was going to assault and headbutt them.
The court heard Kavapalu, who also pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency services worker, used his “size and strength” to drag the officers as they attempted to get him down.
Both officers sustained injuries and one member was unable to go back on beat duty for two weeks.
Kavapalu had earlier blew over the limit after being involved in a collision at Lalor in June 2019.
The road menace had his licence suspended on the spot and cancelled in February 2020 but it didn’t stop him from driving.
In March 2020, Kavapalu did a runner on police after he was spotted driving a Honda Accord through Footscray without headlights.
Kavapalu reversed into oncoming traffic which caused another car to break suddenly, the court heard.
Kavapalu then fled through a McDonald’s before driving on the wrong side of Kinnear St and almost colliding with a cyclist and another motorist.
Police ceased their pursuit but caught up with Kavapalu after the registered owner of the Honda nominated him as the driver.
Kavapalu was also caught speeding through Carlton with his partner and children in the car in June last year.
In an earlier incident, police discovered Kavapalu’s “undriveable” Toyota Kluger banged up into a tree on Lakes Boulevard in South Morang just before 6am on January 1 last year.
Investigators said the abandoned Kluger had blocked a lane of traffic and stank of alcohol.
Police fronted at Kavapalu’s home the next day but he claimed he was away fishing at the time of accident.
Kavapalu, who stands 184cm and weighs 130kg, can handle his liquor, the court was told.
“He can handle a fair amount of alcohol,” Kavapalu’s lawyer said.
“Please be aware of his weight when assessing those (BAC) numbers.”
Kavapalu’s licence was cancelled for two years.
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