Lampro Fouki caught with starter pistol and driving while on ice

Police who pulled over a construction worker in Preston during an early-morning intercept found he was high on ice without a licence. But it was an unusual weapon he said he had for work purposes that really raised eyebrows.

Fouki was caught with a starter pistol.

A construction worker who was caught with a starter pistol at 3am told police he had it for work purposes, a court has heard.

Lampro Fouki fronted Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, June 2, having also been found driving on methamphetamine, repeatedly driving unlicensed and repeatedly carrying stolen bank cards.

The court heard police stopped the 44-year-old when he was driving on St Georges Rd, Preston about 3.06am on August 2, finding a starter pistol — a controlled weapon — in the vehicle.

Fouki had methamphetamine in his system when he was caught unlicensed driving.

Senior Constable Matt Isaac said Fouki told police the starter pistol was for his work.

Fouki was on the road illegally, with his licence having been suspended on July 4 for speeding.

The father-of-two was also found violating the same licence suspension on July 27 when police caught him doing 76km/h in a 60km/h zone on Bell St, Preston about 12.34am.

Fouki was also found to have methamphetamine in his system at the time.

He was again found driving on the suspended licence outside the Preston Hotel about 5.05am on October 6.

The court heard Fouki was then one of several people police had to remove from a hotel in Flinders St, Melbourne on March 28 after they refused to leave.

At the time police found a bank card linked to a car theft and a proof of age card in his bag.

Police found Fouki with several bank cards and IDs in other names about 1.35am on June 2.

Senior Constable Isaac said police approached Fouki as he stood in the carpark of McDonald’s in Preston with another person, before searching his car.

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They found a wallet in the car containing a range of IDs and bank cards in other names, some of which were linked to car thefts and some which had been stolen from cars.

Police also found four phones, with three suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Fouki was on bail at the time and was supposed to be abiding by a 9pm to 5am curfew.

He pleaded guilty to all charges before the court, having been in custody since he was arrested in the early hours of the morning.

The court heard he had no criminal history since he arrived in Australia in 2011 and was the main support for his young family.

Magistrate Ian Alger said a substantial fine was needed to address the numerous serious offences Fouki had committed.

He was fined $3000 plus $127.40 statutory costs, while his licence was disqualified for eight months.