COVID-19 curfew breacher caught at Dandenong Plaza allegedly had ice, stolen bank card in underwear
A convicted sex offender should have been tucked up in the cot like rest of Melbourne. Instead, police found him acting weirdly at Dandenong Plaza. They allegedly discovered why when they searched his underpants.
South East
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A convicted sex offender caught at Dandenong Plaza breaching the COVID-19 curfew allegedly had ice and a stolen bank card in his underpants.
Thomas Palmer was on bail at the time for other drug offences he had allegedly committed two months ago.
And the 36-year-old, who is on the sex offender’s register, is also serving a community corrections order for exposing himself to a woman, theft and drug crimes.
He appeared by video link at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to apply for bail.
Remand liaison officer Sergeant Chris Marlow told the court police had seen Palmer acting suspiciously in the Dandenong Plaza carpark at 12.30am.
He was spoken to about breaching the Chief Health Officer’s directions regarding the Stage 4 curfew, but couldn’t provide a reasonable excuse for being out at that time.
Sgt Marlow said Palmer appeared nervous and fidgety, was glassy-eyed and tried to conceal a wallet down his underpants.
When he was searched the wallet fell to the ground and allegedly contained silver foils of ice and a bank card belonging to someone else.
Mr Palmer allegedly told officers the drugs were his own “personal supply” and he had found the bank card on the ground in Thomastown, but had not had a chance to hand it in.
He was on bail at the time for allegedly being caught in the city by PSOs on June 4 this year with a glass ice pipe and cannabis.
He was also half-way through an 18-month community corrections order for sexual exposure, shop theft and ice possession crimes that he had been sentenced to in August last year.
Sgt Marlow said Mr Palmer had a history of breaching court orders, failing to abide by Sex Offender Registry and bail requirements, and was a high risk of reoffending if he was bailed.
His defence lawyer told the court Mr Palmer was homeless, but currently had accommodation at a motel in the CBD.
She said there was no evidence he had stolen the bank card, and the possessions of drugs charges were low level offending.
She said a curfew would allay reoffending concerns, he was getting treatment for his mental health and drug issues and he would likely be pleading guilty to some of the charges.
But Magistrate Suzette Dootjes said in her view any conditions, including a curfew, could not alleviate his reoffending risk to an acceptable level.
“He must have been aware of the (Stage 4) curfew at the time he was caught yet he didn’t comply,” Ms Dootjes said.
“I accept the current offences are low level… but he has not demonstrated good compliance with previous grantings of bail or complying with court orders.
“In fact he was on bail when these (alleged offences) occurred.”
Bail was refused and Mr Palmer was remanded in custody until August 19.
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