Adam Scherwinski: Dandenong kid-dumping car thief’s ‘role model’ pledge
A 23-year-old ice-addicted car thief who has spent much of the past five years inside says he’ll be a “role model” for his child — but he might not be there for the birth.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
An ice-addled jailbird who once stole a car with a kid inside and then dumped the boy on the side of a busy road says he wants to become “a role model” for his soon-to-be-born child.
Adam James Scherwinski had only been out of prison a matter of months when he went on yet another drug-fuelled crime spree.
This time the Dandenong 23-year-old drove around in stolen cars with fake plates and bodged-up identity numbers with knives, dope and imitation guns on board.
The wannabe mechanic also stole a trolley full of hi-vis clothing and was found with nicked police gear in his bedroom.
A court heard his partner is pregnant with their child, due to be born in July this year.
Scherwinski had stolen a car while the child’s father was shopping inside Dandenong Cellars, driving 1.5kms before noticing the little boy in the back seat.
He pulled over and dumped the youngster on the corner of David and James streets at 5pm in peak hour traffic and raced off.
A year before that his mugshot was plastered all over the front page of the Greater Dandenong Leader when as an 18-year-old he featured as one of the region’s “Most Wanted”.
Scherwinski pleaded guilty to a raft of weapons, theft, deception, drugs, driving, court and bail breaches at the online Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
The court heard he was caught riding a motorbike with fake plates, slick tyres and no indicators in Dandenong on April 17 – even though he hasn’t even passed his learner’s.
On May 3 he helped steal a car from a Dandenong driveway and used a stolen credit card he found inside to buy $300 worth ciggies at a nearby servo.
Nine days later he pilfered stacks of work gear from the Parkmore Kmart in Keysborough before driving off in a stolen car.
On September 2 he was nabbed speeding in Mt Waverley with cannabis and a large hunting knife and a couple of weeks after that he was found in a car with an imitation gun in a backpack.
He was then locked up and remanded on December 3 after he was caught at his girlfriend’s Carrum Downs house with a police lanyard, handcuffs and keys to another stolen car.
His defence lawyer said he suffered from severe anxiety and longstanding drug issues.
She said he knows he’s “at the crossroads” and the fact he was going to become a father soon was a reason for him to “get back on track” and try to be “a role model” for his child.
Magistrate Andrew Halse said Scherwinski had a “terrible” criminal record for someone so young, and an obvious disregard for the law.
“(During COVID) he was out committing offences when everyone else was in lockdown,” Mr Halse said.
“He’s been out carrying knives, carrying imitation handguns; he’s more than happy to get in stolen cars and drive around.
“His anxiety is not the issue that makes him commit crimes.”
Scherwinski will be sentenced on February 16.
