Car-stealing Cranbourne tradie Darren Whittaker jailed at Frankston Magistrates’ Court
A Cranbourne tradie with crazy ear accessories, long goatee and shaved head has been jailed for car theft, drug and weapon possession, despite his lawyer pushing for a less severe punishment because he “means well”.
South East
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The lawyer for a Cranbourne tradie with peculiar body art told a court his client was “not as fierce as he looks” as part of his push for a less severe punishment.
And 38-year-old Darren Whittaker’s lawyer said that despite the tradie’s unique look — including two large stretchers in his earlobes as well as a shaved head and lengthy goatee — “bad choices” led him to stealing and using ice.
“But (Whittaker) means well,” he said.
It comes after police found Whittaker driving a stolen ’97 BMW without a licence through Cranbourne West on March 4, with a pat-down unveiling a pink knife, multitool and two clear bags with a crystal substance believed to be ice.
The defence told the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Monday that Whittaker claimed he borrowed the car — which was registered as stolen from Hastings in February and had stolen plates — from a friend to help with moving houses from Frankston to Cranbourne.
Police said Whittaker was also pinged using keys trying to access the rear tub of a vehicle parked on Francis St, Frankston, about 12.20am.
Magistrate Vicky Prapas heard Whittaker’s life took a turn after he was involved in a serious accident at the age of 18, but that his violent offending had “slowed down” following a serious assault charge in 2008.
“The violence has slowed down but there is still an issue with cars and drugs,” his lawyer said.
“(But the drug problem) is not out of control.”
Whittaker interrupted the video link to say “every tradie” carried a multitool and he didn’t understand why it was classed as a prohibited weapon.
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“You need a lawful excuse (to carry one),” Ms Prapas said.
“(There’s no) violence but it’s taking property that doesn’t belong to you … I have to think of the nature and seriousness of the offending and the message I need to send to you.
“For every time (Whittaker) offends (in the future) he’s going to get jailed.”
Whittaker — who had already served 12 days’ behind bars — pleaded guilty to a number of charges including car theft, possessing methamphetamine and possessing a controlled weapon and was sentenced to an aggregate jail term of four months.