Nine shocking cases from Victorian courts this week

From a woman who threw hot coffee on another to a man who tried to sneak knuckle dusters through airport security, here’s some of what happened in Victorian courts this week.

From a woman who threw hot coffee on another to a man who tried to sneak knuckle dusters through airport security, here’s some of what happened in Victorian courts this week.

Sarah Franklin, Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court

A woman who assaulted a service station patron — including throwing a hot coffee on the victim — has been jailed for four months.

Sarah Franklin

Sarah Franklin, 53, appeared in Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for sentencing on one common law assault charge, after the “disturbing” attack.

But she won’t serve any immediate jail time. Find out why and watch the CCTV footage of the attack here.

Bradley Watson, Bendigo Magistrates’ Court

A family businessman and prominent member of a small Goulburn Valley community has been jailed for grooming teenage girls for nudes and sex.

Police, in 2020, busted Bradley Watson, 44, “using subterfuge” to create “multiple fake profiles” to groom the teenage girls — aged between 15 and 16 — for “nudes” and asking one teen to meet him at a public toilet for sexual acts.

Find out why the prominent local is appealing his jail sentence and read the full story here.

Lylley Lawson, Mildura Magistrates’ Court

A young thug has narrowly avoided a jail sentence for terrorising two elderly couples during a wild crime spree across Melbourne suburbs.

Lylley Lawson

Lylley Lawson, 22, and her father Eric, 38, were chased by the police air wing as they jacked cars, committed armed burglary and assaulted police.

Find out why the magistrate allowed her to avoid jail time and read the full story here.

Hayden Griffiths, Bendigo Magistrates’ Court

An Echuca man savagely bashed a woman in front of her daughter near Kyabram, telling the toddler her mother “deserved it”.

Hayden Griffiths, 24, was jailed for eight months at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday for a vicious assault on a woman, leaving her bruised all over her body.

Find out how the victim felt and read the full story here.

Nabeel Anjum, Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court

A Pakistani taxi driver who sexually assaulted a “vulnerable” woman on her ride home has been told his victim was “absolutely terrified she will be raped”.

Nabeel Anjum

Nabeel Anjum, 29, last week pleaded guilty in the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court to sexually assaulting a woman.

Find out why he received a community corrections order with no conviction and read the full story here.

Zoe Hertz, Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court

A Brighton woman has claimed she “didn’t realise fireworks were illegal” after a police raid meant for her housemate exposed her hidden explosives.

Zoe Hertz

Zoe Hertz, 28, pleaded guilty in Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on March 13 to one charge of knowingly possessing an unauthorised explosive, one charge of failing an oral fluid test and one charge of possessing methamphetamines.

Find out how police found the fireworks and read the full story here.

Abdelmoez Elawad, Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court

A man released from indefinite immigration detention after the government’s indefinite detention policy was ruled illegal stole a suitcase from Melbourne Airport not long after being released.

Abdelmoez Mohamed Elawad, 45, pleaded guilty to two charges of criminal damage and another of theft when he fronted the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday flanked by an Arabic interpreter.

Read the full story here.

Caleb Consiglio, Melbourne Magistrates’ Court

A former Central Victorian publican who assaulted two women at a wedding has been ordered by a court to donate to an organisation dedicated to helping LGBT people – not victims of sexual assault.

Caleb Consiglio

Caleb Jordan Consiglio, the 27-year-old one-time owner of the Cumberland Hotel in Smeaton, faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault after he touched two women’s breasts.

Find out why he was given the unusual punishment and read the full story here.

Haofang Yan, Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court

A University of Melbourne student who got caught with knuckle dusters at the airport has been told it is his responsibility to know what he can and cannot bring back to Australia.

Haofang Yan, 23, fronted Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon.

Find out why he brought the weapons and read the full story here.