Cranbourne smash teen back behind bars after southeast crime spree
Just under a year after a car he stole was involved in a horrendous smash that claimed the lives of two of friends and left his girlfriend fighting for life in Cranbourne, a teenager has again found himself in trouble.
South East
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A Baxter teen who stole the car involved in a horror smash which killed two of his friends and left his girlfriend fighting for life last year went on a crime spree while on bail, a court has heard.
Jack Ledlin, 18, landed himself back in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after the spree from Patterson Lakes to his home suburb saw him snatch two cars, credit cards and slabs of Jim Beam between March 10 and 14.
Thursday’s hearing followed Ledlin’s involvement in the August 11 tragedy where a stolen Holden Commodore slammed into another car on the South Gippsland Hwy, killing Ledlin’s friends Byron Hampton, 16, and Jordy Kirkwood, 18, and leaving his girlfriend Dakoda Nicholson, 17, with critical spinal injuries.
Driver Dylan Cassidy — who fled the scene by foot while passenger Ledlin stopped to help — told police he had taken a cocktail of ice, cannabis and alcohol before the accident.
Three days later, Ledlin threatened to set fire to the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court if he was not released from custody to see Ms Nicholson, who survived her injuries.
Ledlin was sentenced to an 18 month community corrections order on January 23 after pleading guilty to more than 40 charges including theft of motor vehicle and burglary.
Ledlin pleaded guilty on Thursday to fresh charges including theft of
motor vehicle, possess drug of dependence and commit indictable offence on bail.
The court heard Ledlin stole a Toyota Prado wagon from an address in Somerville before pinching two slabs of Jim Beam at the local Ritchies and spending $180 on petrol with a stolen card at Shell Baxter on March 3.
He also took a Subaru Forester from Frankston before using a stolen card to buy almost $500 worth McDonald’s, cigarettes and petrol on March 14, and stole a Holden Commodore at Frankston on May 5.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said Ledlin’s previous community corrections order did not have the “desired effect” on the 18-year-old.
“He’s already been given a lot of opportunities since August last year,” he said.
“I’m very conscious you’re a young person who needs help.”
Ledlin will appear for sentencing via video link on July 20.
brittany.goldsmith@news.com.au
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