Matthew Shanahan steals $15k from Viewbank drug dealers
A crook who goes by the name “Showbags” decided to settle a debt his own way, stealing $15k of goods from a Viewbank home.
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A man who is commonly known as “Showbags” raided his drug dealer’s Viewbank property and stole $15,000 worth of goods, claiming it was warranted to settle a debt.
Matthew Shanahan, 37, was sentenced to 76 days’ jail and a 12-month community corrections order before Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court, having pleaded guilty to charges including stating a false name and resisting a PSO.
The Heidelberg West man had his friend take him to their drug dealer’s Winston Rd home before he helped himself to items left in the carport and car.
He was caught on CCTV stealing two electric bikes, tools, an iPad and a brand new 65-inch TV that was sitting in a trolley.
The court heard Shanahan told police he’d done so to settle an outstanding debt with the meth dealers who lived at the property.
It was heard the victims had initially reported the theft to police but had not made any follow up statements and had avoided contact made by police.
Shanahan also fronted the court for a number of other incidents, including repeatedly being caught with heroin and driving unlicensed.
PSOs found him holding heroin and lying on the street next to North Richmond station in November 2019.
The court heard the former panel beater was a longtime heroin addict.
His lawyer told the court Shanahan was known around the northern suburbs by his nickname “Showbags”, and that he had been reading about law in the prison library and giving instructions on how to defend his case.
“He’s fairly confident in his own ability sometimes,” the lawyer said, laughing with Magistrate Helen Murphy.
The lawyer pushed for Shanahan to be given a community corrections order as well as the time he’d already spent in jail.
Shanahan, who appeared by video link from jail, piped up and asked Ms Murphy to require him to do weekly urine drug screens so he could kick his habit.
Having already spent 76 days in jail, Shanahan was released straight away.
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