Coronavirus crimes: Mandy Crerar, Daniel Gower and Thomas Palmer arrested for COVID crimes
Are we really “all in this together?” Some pandemic perps don’t think so. And one jobless man’s excuse for breaching COVID conditions will see him off the road for a long time.
South East
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The global pandemic has created a new class of criminal — the covidiots who think they are outside of the law. Here are just a few of the coronavirus-related cases that have been heard at Frankston and Dandenong courts.
FAKE DRUG BUY TURNS CURFEW BUST
Robert Fitzgerald was nabbed wandering city streets at 2am.
But defying Stage 4 restrictions wasn’t the only bad decision the lockdown loser made that night.
The Dandenong 31-year-old was also caught with boltcutters, a knife and a chisel and bags of crystal substance he had just shelled out $1800 for.
He mistakenly believed he had bought ice, only to later find out he had been duped into purchasing a worthless powder.
He had only been out of jail a few weeks when he committed this drug-buying blunder.
His defence lawyer told the court he was “candid with police” about his quest to purchase meth and now knows he was “ripped-off”.
Fitzgerald, who has an extensive criminal history, pleaded guilty to drug and theft-related charges, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced in late August.
ANTI-MASKER DISEASE DENIER
She is adamant the coronavirus is fake and refuses to wear a mask or take a COVID-19 test.
Mandy Crerar refuses to believe the pandemic is real so has had to sit in isolation in a custody cell for two weeks.
The Frankston 58-year-old anti-authoritarian is alleged to have coughed on staff and resisted arrest after she refused to wear a mask at a Frankston cafe.
Dubbed a social media ‘Karen’ for not following public health guidelines, Ms Crerar was knocked back for bail because of the potential risk she posed to the community.
A second scheduled court appearance didn’t go ahead because she wasn’t prepared to take a test and she refused to turn up for a video link.
She is charged with nine assault, affray, resisting emergency worker and failing to comply with Chief Health Officer’s direction charges and is listed to face court again in late August.
STOLEN CAR BOUGHT WITH JOBSEEKER CASH
Not sure Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg had this in mind when he launched the multi-billion Jobseeker program to help those unable to find work during the pandemic.
Jacob Kelly used some of his extra benefits for extra-curricular car crime, paying a “friend” $500 for a nicked 2020 Toyota RAV 4 before going on a reckless joy ride through the southeast suburbs.
When the 21-year-old — who has never held a driving licence — was eventually caught he was found with a bottle of GHB in his pocket.
The ice addict told police he knew the car, which didn’t have any plates when he bought it, had been stolen but wanted to use his Jobseeker money to “buy something”.
He pleaded guilty to car theft, drug possession and evade police charges.
The magistrate said he would be jailing Kelly, it was just a matter of how long he would go down for.
SPITTER THREATENS COVID-19 INFECTIONS
A thief who spat at police telling them he “had the virus” paid a very high price for his disgusting behaviour.
Daniel Gower threatened to infect cops with the deadly disease after his car was pulled over in Frankston North.
He yelled “I’ve got coronavirus, I’ll f****** spit on you” and “no I’m not (under arrest), I’ve got coronavirus you f****** mutts” while violently resisting arrest.
The 28-year-old labourer had nicked batteries and a charger from a Mornington mechanic’s shop earlier the same day, and was also found with ice in his wallet.
It turned out Gower did not have the virus, but his repulsive actions shook officers who had to endure a nervous wait until they were cleared.
He pleaded guilty to a series of theft, assault and drug charges.
Gower, who has a lengthy prior history of criminal offending and a known hatred for police, was given five-and-a-half months in jail.
COVIDIOT CAUGHT WITH ICE, STOLEN ID IN CAR
You would have thought someone who had drugs, stolen IDs and was out on bail would try and keep a low profile.
But not Ryan Fischer.
The 32-year-old Skye excavator dug himself into a hole when he was caught by cops speeding at 2am after “dropping off his mate” in Frankston.
Officers found him with 0.5g of ice, and a firearms licence and a working with children card that didn’t belong to him.
He said he had drugs in the car “in case he had a relapse” and had to be out at that time of the morning because he was “doing a mate a favour”.
Fischer’s car had also been intercepted in Frankston six weeks before with weapons and drugs on board.
As well as a $1652 breaching fine for being out of the house for no reason, he also got a free night in the cells.
After pleading guilty to drugs and theft-related charges, he was released from custody, convicted and fined $1500.
COVID BREACHER ALLEGEDLY HID DRUGS IN PANTS
Under Stage 4 curfew restrictions at 12.30am Thomas Palmer should have been tucked up in bed like everyone else.
But he wasn’t.
Police say he was acting strangely at Dandenong Plaza, allegedly with drugs and a stolen bank card in his underwear.
They say the 36-year-old appeared nervous and fidgety and tried to conceal a wallet, which allegedly contained silver foils of ice and a bank card belonging to someone else, down his underpants.
Mr Palmer allegedly told officers the drugs were his own “personal supply”, and he had found the bank card on the ground but had not had a chance to hand it in.
He was hit with a $1652 fine for breaking curfew and remanded in custody to face court again next month on drug and theft charges.
ALLEGED DRUG DEALER BAILED OVER COVID-19 SOCIAL DISTANCE FAIL
Social distancing can be hard.
It seems it is even harder if you’re in rehab.
Alleged drug-dealing car thief Jason Milledge was granted additional bail after he left a drug treatment centre because he couldn’t abide by health regulations brought on by the COVID-19 situation.
The 26-year-old alleged hoon had been originally bailed to a detox clinic for four months but walked out in just six weeks because he hated their 1.5m rule.
Mr Milledge said he had “struggled with social distancing issues” so had left the centre voluntarily.
He said since then he had enrolled on a waiting list for counselling, seen his GP and abstained from taking drugs.
He was granted additional bail to live at his mum’s address and will face court again in November.
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