Mill Park’s Michael Sammut banned from Whittlesea after arrest

After living in the northern suburbs with his mum for years, a 37-year-old has been ordered out of the City of Whittlesea, and forced to move more than 60km away. Here’s why.

Sammut has been banned from the City of Whittlesea.

A Mill Park man has been banned from the City of Whittlesea, forcing him to move more than 60km away.

Michael Sammut was banned from entering the municipality, where he has lived for years, when he fronted Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday May 6, having been arrested by police at 12.01am the same day.

The court heard the unemployed 37-year-old has been accused of repeatedly committing offences in the suburb, where he was mixing with a group of troublesome associates.

His own lawyer, Greg Thomas, suggested Sammut be banned from the area in an attempt to persuade the court to release him on bail.

Sammut was allegedly caught trying to break into a vehicle at a Fairfield home.

Police had told the court there was an unacceptable risk Sammut would offend while on bail after they allegedly caught him breaking the law that morning despite being on a community corrections order.

They allegedly found him trying to break into a van parked in a front yard on Arthur St, Fairfield.

Senior Constable Polanco said he had allegedly just tried to open doors of cars parked along the street and had stolen two driver’s licences from an unlocked van.

Sen Constable Polanco said Sammut, who had drug and gambling addictions, showed “complete disregard” for bail and corrections orders.

Mr Thomas told the court Sammut had been doing well on his community corrections order, but had a large group of ice-using associates in Mill Park who influenced him.

“He’s quite honest to police and to corrections about his issues with his peer group, and he’s trying to break away from them,” he said.

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Mr Thomas suggested if the qualified plasterer had “a solid reason” to stay away from the area he could get back on track, suggesting he be released to live with his father in Cranbourne West.

Magistrate Stephen Ballek said the alleged crimes were serious, but might not warrant the jail time Sammut could spend in custody waiting for a sentence.

He bailed Sammut to live with his dad on a strict curfew, and banned him from entering the City of Whittlesea until his court date, which he said would not be before November 25.

Sammut was previously living with his mother in Mill Park, but she will now have to leave the municipality to see him.