Mildura court: A roundup of some of the worst winter criminals in the region

From disgusting sex offending to a man who assaulted a cancer survivor in a bid to buy more booze, here are the latest crooks to front Mildura court.

The winter months have been busy at Mildura Law Courts. Picture: Generic

From a vile grandfather who sexually abused his granddaughter from the age of eight, to a drunken thug who assaulted a cancer survivor so he could buy more grog, here are some of the criminals who have appeared in Mildura courts in the last few weeks.

INCEST GRANDFATHER

A concreter sexually abused his granddaughter multiple times over a five-year period. Picture: Generic

A former concreter from northern Victoria sexually abused his granddaughter at least twice between 2018 and 2023.

The 60-year-old man pleaded guilty to two counts of incest with a direct linear descendant.

The court heard at a date between August 31, 2018 to August 31, 2019, the grandfather was travelling with his 8-year-old granddaughter in a truck.

During the journey, the pair stopped at a truck stop and he told his granddaughter to take her pants off and get in the back of the truck beforfe he sezuall assauted her

On another occasion, the man sexually assaulted the victim while the pair were in a shed.

The man’s lawyer said his client was in the grips of a debilitating meth addiction at the time of the offending.

The grandfather was given a sentence of seven years and three months, with a non parole period of four years and five months. He is also required to be on the sex offenders registry for life.

MERBEIN METHHEAD

Jack Gardner was in the throes of a meth addiction when his offending occurred according to his lawyer. Picture: Generic

Jack Gardner, a boilermaker from Merbein, pleaded guilty in the Koori Court at Mildura Magistrates’ Court to several charges, including dangerous driving, car theft, and drug possession.

Gardner attempted to escape police when he was located at a San Mateo Ave address by jumping from a roof. He subsequently broke his arm and eye socket.

Police had been chasing Gardner after and a co-accused stole a white Toyota Fortuner, believed to have been used in two burglaries in Dareton, NSW.

Gardner was behind the wheel of the stolen Fortuner when it was tracked doing 180 km/h by Toyota Live Tracker.

He drove the stolen vehicle directly at two police cars, requiring officers to take evasive actions to avoid being hit.

The car was later found abandoned, rammed into a tree.

Gardner’s lawyer explained that his offences were committed during a particularly severe methylamphetamine addiction.

The accused himself expressed deep remorse for his offending, apologising to his victim’s in court.

He received an 18-month sentence with a non-parole period of nine months, a $1000 fine, and a two-year suspension of his licence.

DERANGED WOMAN’S SPITTING SPREE

Patricia Mitchell spat on two security guards at Mildura Base Hospital on two different occasions. Picture: Stuart Kavanagh.

Patricia Wilson threatened to kill a man and two children with a knife and spat on several workers during a vile crime spree.

After her friend was asked by a supermarket worker if she could check her bag, Wilson erupted, accusing the worker of being a racist before threatening to hit her with a scooter and spitting on her.

She also spat on two Mildura Base Hospital security guards on separate occasions when she was being removed for anti-social behaviour at the hospital.

Her offending escalated when she pulled a knife on the man, and told him she would kill him, his children, and anyone else in the house.

Wilson’s behaviour didn’t improve behind bars, as she threatened both police and custody officers.

“I’ll get you in the street, out of uniform. I’ll burn your house down,” Wilson is claimed to have said in one incident.

Wilson received a one-month jail sentence followed by a community corrections order.

SEX PEST STRIKES AGAIN

Arthur Tsamoudakis performed a sex act in full view of his neighbourhood. Picture: Generic

Arthur Tsamoudakis performed a sex act facing the window in his bathroom with the lights on in full view of neighbours

On July 2, Tsamoudakis was naked and masturbating in his bathroom at 7.30pm.

A father and daughter were driving past on their way to get dinner when the daughter spotted Tsamoudakis from the car.

“Oh my God, look at that,” the daughter said to her father as they drove past.

The duo called the police and made a report. Police subsequently went to Tsamoudakis’ address and arrested him.

Tsamoudakis had to be convinced that he had to come back to Mildura as a condition of his release. Initially he had told the court he planned to stay in Melbourne.

Magistrate Patrick Southey made a point to tell Tsamoudakis that if he hadn’t pleaded guilty, he would have received a one-month prison sentence.

“I can’t lock you up for things you might do in the future,” Mr Southey said.

Tsamoudakis was sentenced to eight days in prison, which was reckoned as time served. He was also found guilty of breaching a previous community corrections order (CCO), and had a new two-year CCO given to him.

BOOZY CRIM ATTACKS CANCER SURVIVOR

Dion Peace assaulted a woman as he stole her handbag during a boozed up crime spree. Picture: Generic

Dion Peace was desperate for more booze when he attacked a cancer survivor and stole her handbag as she tried to get into her car at Coles on Fifteenth St in Mildura.

As Peace snatched her handbag, the woman, a cancer survivor, fell backwards and hit her head and shoulder on the bitumen.

Peace had also brazenly stolen from the BWS at Mildura Central several times as well, walking straight in, selecting a bottle of wine or whiskey from the shelf and simply walking out without paying, the court heard.

As well as that, Peace had taken to calling emergency services on several occasions, when drunk, making multiple hoax calls to Victoria Police, Fire Rescue Victoria and Ambulance Victoria.

Adding to the crime spree, Peace stole money and alcohol in several smash and grabs at Mocha Mecca, The Office bar and nightclub, and Cheap as Chips in Mildura.

Magistrate Rose Falla handed Peace a six month jail term.

“Your addiction to alcohol is clearly the driving force behind your offending,” Ms Falla said.

“It provides an explanation, but not an excuse.”