Kane Cooper: Former suburban footballer admits to car theft, drug driving
A former footballer who used to dash about for the Port Melbourne Colts wasn’t nearly as good in the heavy traffic during a crime spree that included stealing cars, credit cards and abusing drugs.
North
Don't miss out on the headlines from North. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A former suburban footballer has pleaded guilty to stealing cars, number plates, drug driving and stealing a credit card, which he took on a $1000 spending spree.
Kane Cooper, who’s been in and out of jail, said he felt he had “slipped through the cracks” in the system, when he fronted Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, June 30.
Cooper said he hadn’t received any help for his drug and alcohol problems in his dealings with the justice system, with the court hearing his methamphetamine addiction motivated his latest string of offending.
The court heard after the Reservoir man was released from jail without supervision or support in May 2019, he stole a Mitsubishi Lancer from a Coburg driveway overnight on September 24-25.
He stole number plates from a vehicle in Thornbury days later before he was seen driving another stolen vehicle bearing stolen number plates to Essendon DFO on October 2.
The former footballer ditched a stolen car he’d been driving in Craigieburn on November 3 just after he went through a booze bus station, with police finding his licence in it and multiple bank cards in other people’s names.
About 2.55am on November 11 the police air wing spotted him getting out of another stolen vehicle in Coolaroo, when he was meant to be home abiding by a bail curfew.
Cooper was held in custody from November 11 until the end of February, before he was caught driving an unroadworthy car on methamphetamine in Reservoir about 8.30pm on March 30.
The court heard he then stole a NAB credit card from a Northcote mailbox in the early hours of May 8 before he went on a spending spree with it, racking up a $1088.89 bill.
Cooper spent the day using the card on taxis, at retail stores at Northland Shopping Centre, convenience stores and making online purchases.
Cooper’s lawyer said her client, who was of Indigenous heritage, played amateur footy for the Port Melbourne Colts until 2015.
She said his offending began when he started using methamphetamine in 2014, and his habit had been reignited by the passing of family members and custody issues with his eight-year-old daughter.
She pushed for Cooper to be placed on a community corrections order.
On Wednesday, July 1, Magistrate Ian Alger sentenced Cooper to the 104 days he had already spent in jail for the crimes, and placed him on a 15-month corrections order including treatment and supervision.
His licence was disqualified for 12 months.
MORE: MAN ALLEGEDLY CAUGHT DRIVING WITH BABY AND DRUGS
WEAPONS, STOLEN MOTORCYCLES FOUND IN COBURG RAID
MAN ALLEGEDLY IN SECOND POLICE CHASE AFTER TRYING TO RAM COPS