Alex Loschiavo: Diamond Creek carpenter drives during court

A Diamond Creek tradie with a long list of crimes to his name stunned a courtroom when he showed up to his online hearing.

Alex Loschiavo avoided jailed after pleading guilty to multiple crimes.

A tradie with a long list of crimes to his name — including nine driving offences — was literally behind the wheel, driving, when he showed up to his court hearing.

Alex Loschiavo, 29, was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order with 100 hours’ community work before Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Monday, having pleaded guilty to charges including incitement, dangerous driving and criminal damage.

Loschiavo was in his car, behind the wheel of his vehicle when he logged into his court hearing by video link.

He could be seen trying to make a turn as his lawyer asked him to pull over.

Fortunately for him, the magistrate was not on the bench to see him driving while on his phone.

At the time, Loschiavo was aware he was about to lose licence for at least two years because he had previously refused to undertake a police breath test.

Days earlier the carpenter had pleaded guilty before the court to a number of crimes, including when he repeatedly drove while suspended to report to a police station on bail in 2018 — continuing even after police raised the issue with him.

The court heard the Diamond Creek man had also crashed into a fence and rendered his girlfriend’s car undriveable in 2018, had done burnouts, had missed court and failed to report on bail.

He also shoplifted from Northland in March 2017, then caught on CCTV graffiting the shopping centre with black spray paint five days later after he had been banned from the venue by a court.

It was heard Loschiavo had also made a Facebook status in May 2017 threatening and asking people to attack a woman, stating, “(The victim) is a dirty lagging dog and yes I know this is a Facebook status but meh”.

“This dog lagged a good friend of mine, I hope you see this (victim), you little sl*t because I’m coming for you. Anyone sees this little mutt 200-500 $$ to belt her, thanks guys and let the party start,” Loschiavo wrote before publishing the woman’s mobile number.

Loschavio’s lawyer told the court his client had not been the one to publish the status, and Loschiavo only pleaded guilty to the charge after a sentence indication was given.

The lawyer told the court Loschiavo “was a remarkably different person” when he committed the old crimes, during which he was a heavy ice user.

It was heard he had since been clean for two years and had become the father of a daughter.

Magistrate Helen Murphy said she was surprised to learn Loschiavo’s age, because his crimes were usually associated with someone much younger.

Ms Murphy said the time that had passed since they occured had very much worked in Loschiavo’s favour.

She disqualified his licence for two years in line with the mandatory sentencing requirements.