Jayden Day dodges jail after pleading guilty to drug, firearm, and stolen goods charges

A Mildura father of three fell in with the wrong crowd and was “running with the wolves” during a wild crime spree that included an outback chase with police.

Jayden Day has avoided jail after pleading guilty to numerous charges. Pic: Generic

A father of three led police on a dramatic chase through bushland before later being found with drugs and ammo at a Mildura caravan park, a court has heard.

Jayden Day, 26, pleaded guilty to multiple charges at Mildura Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday including various drug possession charges, resisting arrest, dealing with stolen goods, and possessing a firearm as a prohibited person.

The court heard that on April 4, a search of Day’s shed uncovered items that had been stolen from a Red Cliffs address over the 2023 Christmas period.

Mildura Law Courts

Day returned to his property as the search of his shed was underway and was found to be in possession of a squirt bottle of GHB, cannabis, and an imitation firearm.

On June 26, Day and an unknown co-accused were spotted in a Mazda 6 with no rear registration plates near Robinvale.

The pair were spotted the following day in a small town south of Robinvale by the police air wing. When police attempted to capture the duo, Day drove off and was chased through dirt tracks and bushland near Old Calder Highway, both in the vehicle and on foot.

When he was finally captured, Day was found to have cannabis in his possession. A search of the Mazda 6 uncovered a plastic bag with MDMA and another container filled with cannabis. Police told the court Day resisted arrest when he was caught.

NRMA Mildura Riverside Holiday Park

On September 1, Day was arrested after staff at the NRMA Mildura Riverside Holiday Park alerted patrolling officers to suspicious activity at one of their cabins.

A search of the cabin uncovered drugs, 47 rounds of .22 calibre ammunition, and a silver handgun.

They also claim they discovered a number plate from a stolen vehicle, which had been destroyed and discarded in a garbage bin at the property.

Day’s lawyer Bert Hilton-Wood said his client had fallen in with the wrong crowd.

“He has definitely been running with the wolves,” Mr Hilton-Wood told the court.

Magistrate Patrick Southey took Day’s plea into account, telling him he would have received three months behind bars had he not pleaded guilty.

Day was sentenced to time served, reckoned as three days, had his licence suspended and received an 18-month CCO that included 150 hours of community service.