Mildura Magistrates’ Court: Melbourne Demons fan Peter Crouch charged over theft

A footy jumper thief was “probably” a Collingwood supporter, a magistrate has joked in his sentencing of a Mildura farm worker.

Peter Crouch faced Mildura Magistrates’ Court after he stole a Melbourne Demons jersey from a merchandise shop in Knox. Picture: Sam Dirkis

A footy jumper thief was “probably” a Collingwood supporter, a magistrate has joked in his sentencing of a Mildura farm worker.

Peter Crouch faced Mildura Magistrates’ Court after he stole a Melbourne Demons jumper from a merchandise shop in the Knox Shopping Centre in Melbourne.

Prosecutors told the court on June 19, 2021 Crouch simply walked into the store and took the jumper off the rack without attempting to pay.

He was then spotted wearing the jersey on CCTV but police didn’t manage to catch up with until he had moved to Mildura.

As the matter was getting underway, Magistrate Patrick Southey suggested it might not be in Crouch’s interest not to mention which team he supported.

Mildura Law Courts. Picture: Mark Stewart

“Perhaps don’t mention which club it was until later, just to make sure it hasn’t prejudiced me,” he joked.

“Although it’s more than likely if you’re in court, it’s probably Collingwood.”

However, the farm worker told the court he was Demons supporter and the theft was a “crime of passion” and a “silly mistake” he made while he was homeless.

“I was dealing with homelessness at the time and me and the kids were living out of my car, I’d also relapsed onto drugs, it was just a silly mistake, a crime of passion,” he said.

Mr Southey joked he would have to be careful in sentencing Crouch because he himself was also a Demons supporter.

However, he added his allegiances wouldn’t help him this time.

“I need to be careful in cases like these because I’m also a Melbourne supporter. But you’re not going to get favourable treatment from me,” he said.

Crouch was ordered to pay $200 to the court fund and given a 12 month good behaviour bond without a conviction after he pleaded guilty.

“You’re doing all the right things, you’ve started work, you study, your life has really got back on track,” Mr Southey said.