Biggest Victorian court scoops of 2021: Kiara Mack, Marcus Dibble, Tess Rowlatt and more exposed

You may have seen these big court stories elsewhere but you can guarantee these scoops were exclusively read here first.

Some of the biggest stories to be heard at a Victorian court in 2021.

It’s been a big year at the courts with many of the big stories being covered by multiple media outlets but here are the other juggernaut yarns where you exclusively saw and read first at the Herald Sun.

THE SOBBING ACCOUNTANT

Kiara Mack

Sobbing accountant Kiara Mack plotted a series of revenge attacks on her ex which included posting intimate photos of him on Instagram.

Mack was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in June to a 15-month community correction order after pleading guilty to six charges including stalking.

Mack, an Ernst & Young accountant, stalked and menaced her ex-boyfriend after the pair broke up early last year.

The scorned lover spray-painted “cheater” in Pink across her victim’s black Volkswagen, the court was told.

Mack then barraged her victim with a series of menacing messages via Facebook.

“Stupid to leave your sister’s car out there to … initiating phase 2,” Mack said.

“I know where you live, I know where you work, I know your footy club, I know your favourite bars, I know the code to your house.”

Mack amped up her anger when the victim changed addresses but refused to tell her where he had moved to.

“Your life is over I have a book of plans to make sure of it,” Mack said.

Mack, who avoided a conviction, was stood down by Ernst & Young after her antics were exposed by the Herald Sun but she ultimately retained her employment.

UNI GRAD’S ALLEGED AIRBNB DRUG RACKET

Tess Rowlatt

A former Melbourne marketing guru allegedly operated a “money-making” drug racket at multiple inner-city Airbnb properties.

Tess Rowlatt fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in November charged with more than 100 offences including trafficking meth.

Rowlatt allegedly flipped multiple ounce-bag drug deals while shifting between 16 separate Airbnb properties, including the View Hotel St Kilda and Upper West Side in the city.

The court heard Rowlatt stayed at the properties for durations ranging from a night to a few days between July 23 and October 21 this year.

Rowlatt also allegedly sold meth, GHB and heroin ranging back to January this year, the court was told.

Drug Squad detectives moved in and arrested Rowlatt at her Upper West Side Spencer St apartment on October 21.

Police pounced after the university marketing grad allegedly facilitated a $15,000 drug deal between her supplier and a buyer.

Sen-Constable Scott Davies also alleged Rowlatt booked and secured her Airbnbs with bogus IDs and forged essential worker permits.

Police prosecutor Thomas Mills told the court he was still “adding up” the alleged drug transactions on Rowlatt’s tick book but it was more than $203,000.

THE DISGRACED FORMER YOUTUBE STAR

Marcus Dibble

Disgraced YouTube comedian Marcus Dibble groomed a 13-year-old girl for sex but avoided a jail term.

Dibble was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates Court in August to an 18-month community correction order after pleading guilty to charges including grooming a child under 16 for to engage in sexual conduct.

Dibble violated his 13-year-old victim after she contacted him via his Instagram account for nude model photography business dibbleprime.

Dibble had posted a “questionnaire” to attract new models to his business, according to a summary of offending submitted to the court.

The girl told Dibble she was “13 turning 14” but the fiend said that was “fine”.

Dibble, who also pleaded guilty to produce, possess and distribute child abuse material, told his victim he wanted to “meet up” to photograph her.

Dibble communicated with the victim via Snapchat, Instagram, email and phone between April 2019 and July last year.

Moya O’Brien, for Dibble, said her client made a lot of money from his 500,000 YouTube subscribers but ceased his “business” after he was arrested.

Dibble, a “call out” and prank video comedian, lost earnings including advert royalties and merchandise income after he halted his YouTube account and withdrew from social media, the court heard.

The court was told “salacious rumours” regarding Dibble’s disappearance swirled on the internet.

Dibble worked as a “consultant” for gamer energy drink Juicd but was “let go” after his offending was exposed by the Herald Sun in May this year.

Dibble was convicted and made a registered sex offender for 15 years.

EX-BALLERINA WENT FULL BLACK SWAN

Alexandra Stewart

Former international ballet dancer Alexandra Stewart harassed, stalked and assaulted her ex but was spared a conviction.

Stewart, 30, was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in November to a 15-month community correction order after pleading guilty to charges including stalking and assault.

Stewart bombarded an ex-boyfriend with calls, texts and emails and assaulted him during a protracted menace campaign the prosecution termed a “harassing course of conduct”.

The offending kicked-off when the victim ended the relationship in January this year.

Stewart used 12 different phone numbers, private numbers, various email addresses, social media platforms and even pay application Splitwise to contact her ex.

The victim blocked communication with Stewart on all platforms daily but like a severed head of Hydra the jilted lover popped back up with a fresh email or phone number the next day.

Stewart also left letters, torn up cards and returned presents at her victim’s Richmond home during her offending committed between February and June this year.

Stewart also attended her victim’s home “uninvited”, the court was told.

The court heard Stewart, during September’s plea hearing, had a successful international career as a ballet dancer but feared a conviction would derail her future employment opportunities.

Stewart was also ordered to perform 100 hours of unpaid community work.

DOC CAME UP SHORT IN DATING GAME

Eileen Moore

Love-starved doc Dr Eileen Moore demanded a full refund and a written apology after an exclusive dating agency lumped her with a dud date who failed to meet her height requirements.

Dr Moore sued Elite Introductions after she slapped down almost $5000 upfront to join the agency in February 2019.

Dr Moore said she was “excited” to find love after her “career-focused” lifestyle kept her on the dating sidelines.

Dr Moore told VCAT an Elite Introductions advertisement pitching dreams of matching time-poor professionals had “resonated” with her.

Elite Introductions chief executive Trudy Gilbert, Australia’s “Millionaire Matchmaker”, promotes her business as an exclusive agency for well-educated professionals with the potential to land client’s an “intellectual, financially secure and confident partner”.

“There was a lot of positives … it really attracted me … I was ready to meet Mr Right,” Dr Moore said.

The Harvard-educated Barwon Health researcher told the tribunal her requirements for her ideal partner was that he only be of Australian/Irish descent, have Australian-born parents, be a Roman Catholic, be like her, be driven and be taller than six foot.

“I really want someone six foot tall, it isn’t uncommon … I’m five foot nine and I like to wear heels … I really want a tall man,” Dr Moore said.

The tribunal heard Ms Hayes contacted Dr Moore with the good news that she had matched her with mysterious businessman ‘David’.

David’s stocks rose with Dr Moore after she heard he was “relationship-ready”, family-oriented and played the piano.

The love plan was on track until Ms Hayes allegedly told Dr Moore, that David was “around the same height” as her.

The doctor said the late information left her “gobsmacked”.

Dr Moore said she attempted to contact Ms Hayes on the final day of her three-day cooling-off period but insinuated she was stonewalled.

Dr Moore asked for a refund but saw out her year-long membership without another “meeting” with David or any other man, the tribunal heard.

“Obviously David was a disappointment,” tribunal member Danielle Galvin said.

Dr Moore sought a full $4995 refund, legal costs, extras for alleged misleading conduct, bullying and breach of verbal contract and a written apology from Elite Introductions.

“I was not expecting them to find me love, I was expecting them to find me a man who met the criteria I wanted,” she said.

Member Galvin urged Dr Moore to attempt to reach a private settlement after indicating she would be lucky to get a partial refund.

But Dr Moore insisted on pushing on with the matter to return in February next year.

INCREDIBLE HULK’S DEPLORABLE DRIVING RECORD

Rene Kink

Former VFL cult hero Rene Kink was told he faces a stint in the clink if he continues to be a menace on the roads.

The ex-Collingwood big rig known as The Incredible Hulk was warned by a magistrate another driving ruckus and he could be booted into jail.

Kink, who pleaded guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in April to two counts of driving while suspended, was pulled over unlicensed at Docklands in March 2019.

Kink — who also made his name playing fictional Magpie hard man “Tank O’Donohue” in the 1980 movie The Club — was unlicensed due to “breaching a demerit bond”.

Kink, who also pulled on the boots for Essendon and St Kilda during his 181-game career, told the cops he was “not aware” his licence was suspended.

Kink, who appeared via his lawyer’s office, confirmed he had activated the demerit option.

Kink was stung by police again driving unlicensed through Wangaratta North on November 29 last year.

Again Kink told police he wasn’t aware his licence was suspended just after they pulled him over on Federation Way and activated bodycams.

Kink’s licence was disqualified by a magistrate in February this year after he failed to rock up to court.

But Kink, who kicked 280 VFL goals, convinced a magistrate to give him another shot.

Bernie Balmer, for Kink, said his client had broken up with his partner of 20 years and he had recently moved back to Melbourne from Wangaratta which caused him to miss court.

The court was told Kink shifted homes several times before landing a stable home in Port Melbourne.

Kink, who the court heard has other prior driving offences, hasn’t driven for 86 days but Mr Balmer urged the court to reinstate his client’s licence so he can get back to work.

Magistrate Angela Bolger let Kink back on the road but warned him this was his last chance.

“It’s his responsibility to make sure that he’s properly licensed on each occasion he gets back behind the wheel of a car,” Magistrate Bolger said.

“And if he were to come back again with a charge of driving while suspended or disqualified he faces the very real prospect of a term of imprisonment.”

Kink was convicted and fined an aggregate of $1200.

HOW GEELONG FAMILY SAVED TRAUMATISED DOG

Indi with her new mum Tarynn Paterson.

An interstate breeder sold a traumatised anxiety-riddled dog to a Geelong couple, with a vet saying the pet’s condition “verged on animal cruelty”.

South Australian-based La Exotica Kennels breeder Sylvia Jachmann — formerly known as Sylvia Gutierrez — denied operating a “puppy farm” after she sold five-year-old blue staffordshire terrier ‘Charley’ to a Geelong family.

Ms Jachmann fronted VCAT in November after Lara mother Tarynn Paterson sued the Lewiston breeder for “misleading conduct”.

Ms Paterson paid $1200 for Charley — who the family renamed Indi — after she was told the “three-year-old” dog had only a single litter and no pre-existing injuries.

The Lara mother told the tribunal she was warned by the delivery driver that her new dog was “petrified”.

“She cowered, she was petrified of anything and everything …,” Ms Paterson told the tribunal. “We got her home and she was looking for anything to hide under.

“She’s getting better with us but you can’t pat her, she’s far from a placid dog … it’s my understanding she’ll be on medication for life.”

Ms Paterson engaged experienced Surf Coast veterinarian surgeon Dr Melanie Rockman who gave Indi a four-hour examination.

Indi was found to have underwent five separate surgeries including three artificial insemination procedures.

Dr Rockman, who has a post graduate in animal behaviour, told the tribunal Indi was not suitable to be rehomed or transported.

“I would say this was one of the few cases that I consider may have verged on animal cruelty,” Dr Rockman said.

“I have consulted on thousands and thousands of cases and this one really took my breath away.

“It was a dog that was completely shut down, it was a dog who was terrified of the world, it was a dog that was hiding and escaping …

“That dog, in my opinion had severe problems … it was upsetting, not only as a professional but as a human being to see an animal like that.”

Dr Rockman also praised Ms Paterson for doing everything she could for Indi.

“She’s been remarkable … I commend Tarynn, many people would have euthanised this dog,” she said.

Ms Paterson, who sought $10,000 compensation to cover Indi’s cost, vet fees and ongoing expenses, was awarded $1000.

HAILEYBURY GRAD DENIES RAPE CHARGES

Lyndon Montgomery

A Haileybury graduate allegedly snuck into a young woman’s home and raped her, a court was told.

Lyndon Montgomery fronted Melbourne Magistrates Court in March after he was charged with rape and aggravated burglary.

The court heard Montgomery snuck into his victim’s Bayside home and allegedly raped her in late-2018.

Montgomery, who appeared via videolink from his barrister’s office, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Montgomery had been drinking with his alleged victim and others at Chapel St bar Lucky Coq earlier in the night according to witness testimony.

The court was told Montgomery, his alleged victim and another person caught an Uber home after the bar session.

Montgomery and his alleged victim travelled on to her home after the other passenger was dropped off.

The court heard the alleged victim went inside her home, locked the door behind her and jumped in the shower.

Montgomery snuck into the woman’s bedroom via an unlocked sliding door and jumped in the shower with her, the court heard.

The woman – who had consumed several drinks throughout the evening- asked Montgomery what he was doing then told him to “get out”.

Next thing the young woman remembers was Montgomery allegedly raping her in her bed.

The alleged victim woke in the morning with Montgomery still in her bed.

She told him to leave then noticed blood in her bed which she recorded with her phone.

A screenshot of a text message obtained by the Herald Sun which Montgomery sent the woman several days after the alleged rape was also presented to the court.

The former Haileybury boy claimed the sex was consensual and he and his alleged victim had been “intimate” in the past.

Montgomery, from Aspendale, is expected to face court again in 2022.

MORE JOKER THAN BATMAN

Taylor Tangas aka Melbourne's Batman.

A man who masqueraded around Melbourne as Batman was exposed as a villainous conman.

Taylor Tangas promised he could help people beat the COVID-19 blues after he was spotted looking over city traffic in a homemade Batman suit early on in the pandemic.

The South Morang concreter unmasked himself as the city’s Batman who became the talk of the town after he was snapped perched over the Kings Way and City Rd intersection

Tangas told media he wore the suit to show his mum the city was safe from COVID-19 and had “nothing to worry about”.

The unemployed tradie claimed a friend had dared him to venture out in his homemade superhero costume in public

Tangas also claimed on radio that a group of tradies let him into a city building to retrieve his phone.

Tangas told the Herald Sun he was happy to help anyone during lockdown by bringing out the costume again.

However, Tangas proved to be more supervillain than superhero when he was later nabbed rorting $6500 via a sophisticated retail and betting racket.

Tangas should consider rebranding himself as a Batman villain such as the Riddler or the Joker after his full criminality was laid bare in court in April.

The hero Melbourne didn’t want and in the end didn’t really need created a bogus JB Hi-Fi account with a stolen bank card and purchased goods worth more than $3770.

Tangas and his female partner-in-crime then hightailed to Northland where the clipped crusader presented dodgy ID to collect his ill-gotten loot from JB staff.

The dubious duo also splashed down on two bets worth a combined $2800 via Sportsbet and another gambling outlet.

Police raided the crony sidekick’s Thomastown home and found Tangas with stolen IDs and a doctored driver’s licence just days later.

The real crime fighters also discovered an embossing machine and a list of the stolen electronic devices on a whiteboard inside the dodgy duo’s criminal cave.

The non-criminal mastermind was also pinched showcasing his amazing superpower which was attempting to break into cars in Kew on June 25.

Magistrate Hayley Bate said Tangas committed “quite sophisticated offending”.

“(It) was an absolute disgrace,” Magistrate Bate said.

Ms Bate said Tangas’ “selfish behaviour” would have caused his victims to “feel sick”.

Tangas was sentenced to an 18-month correction order after pleading guilty to charges including obtaining financial advantage by deception.

BOXING LEGEND’S SON KO’D FOR BRUTAL ASSAULT

Zac Swettenham with his father Barry Michael.

The trouble-plagued son of an Australian boxing legend who left a man with life-threatening injuries following a violent Sunshine West aggravated burglary has been jailed.

Zac Swettenham was sentenced in the County Court on in October to a minimum three years’ and six months’s jail after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary and recklessly cause serious injury.

Swettenham, the unemployed son of Australian boxing legend Barry Michael, and a crony stormed their victim’s Lewis Court home on February 10 last year.

The thugs punched their victim and clobbered him with a baseball bat before fleeing with stolen items including the man’s car keys.

The victim went outside his house and called for help before a witness found the man on the ground covered in blood.

Investigators discovered blood spatter on the floor, walls and furniture inside the victim’s home.

The victim was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and placed in an induced coma after doctors feared his airway could close over due to swelling.

Medical staff noted the victim suffered bleeding on the brain, extensive facial fractures and multiple head lacerations.

The court was told it was “possible” the victim “could have died” without intensive care intervention.

The Koori Court heard in September Swettenham was working with Fitzroy Stars youth and commenced a law degree but his life unravelled due to drug use and mental health issues.

Swettenham told the court he got into a “bad” relationship with a woman who got him back on drugs.

Mr Michael, who supported his son in court during the plea hearing, thanked the court and the elders for listening to his son.

“It’s good to hear, on reflection, you want to go forward … you’ve got to stay on the right path … I think the drug ice has a lot to do with the path you went down …,” Mr Michael said.

“While you’re in there (custody) use your time for a good purpose … keep going in the right direction my son, you’ll be fine.”

Judge Scott Johns said there was a “concerning level of violence” involved in Swettenham’s offending.

Swettenham, who had spent 619 days in custody, was jailed for a maximum five years and nine months.

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