Brett Healey: Patterson Lakes druggie’s bizarre binge crime spree
In lyrics that belong in a country song, he lost his woman, his dog and hated lockdown life, so took to drugs to deal with his demons.
South East
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A junkie who went on a bizarre 10-day drug bender which included walking dazed on a busy freeway, twice driving while drugged up and speeding through roadworks has blamed COVID-19 for his crimes.
Brett Andrew Healey got stuck into the gear in the midst of the pandemic because he was stressed due to breaking up with his girlfriend, his dog being run over and not being able to handle the isolation of lockdown.
The 37-year-old Patterson Lakes disability support pensioner pleaded guilty to a swag of drug, driving and weapons charges at the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Between July 13 and 23 last year he wandered in a drug haze through traffic on EastLink, telling police he had “rock salt” in his pockets, and drove while high telling cops he had inhaled “second-hand smoke” from his mates.
He also carried a knife in his car “for his food”, raced through 40km/h roadworks at 95km/h because he “hadn’t seen the signs” and drove a second time while positive for meth.
And in December he crashed his lawnmower powered pushbike into the side of a car, ending up in hospital.
He told police he had bought the bike from eBay because he knew he was suspended and didn’t think he needed a licence for a pushie with an engine.
When advised that was wrong he wasn’t happy, telling officers he “might as well chuck it in the bin”.
He was suspended from driving during all those incidents.
The court heard Healey has long had issues with his mental health, which were made worse by drug use.
His defence lawyer said his client was not on the right medication at the time, and had been using ice during his “appalling conduct”.
He said he had “an alarming history” of crimes, but during the last seven months he had time to “reflect on his stupidity”.
He said he “hit rock bottom” during COVID and was not in a good place, but now the penny had dropped and he was determined to stay out of trouble.
Magistrate Vicky Prapas said Healey was a prolific offender with a poor driving and drug history.
She said he had two priors for driving while disqualified or suspended, three priors for drink or drug driving and multiple speeding crimes on his rap sheet.
She said she wasn’t convinced he “shouldn’t be locked up”.
“His crimes have an impact on road users and members of the community,” Ms Prapas said.
“This is drug-induced offending by someone with a long history of drug use.”
Healey will be sentenced on March 5.
