Dandenong Magistrates Court: Scott Rankine put victim in headlock while driving before being found with gun
A drugged-up lunatic who assaulted an associate multiple times across Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs, including while driving, has “poor anger management issues”, a court has heard.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A man with “anger management issues” who continually attacked an associate, including putting her a headlock while driving, had been dealing with the death of his dog, a court has heard.
Scott Rankine, 31, appeared in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to a string of assault charges as well as the possession of drugs and a firearm.
In February this year, the court heard Rankine and the victim were in a friend’s car in Berwick when they got into an argument, with Rankine reaching from the back seat to hit the victim who was in the front seat before reaching forward and choking her.
In March, the victim and Rankine were again in a car together, and Rankine again put the victim in a headlock and “drove erratically”.
Almost a month later Rankine and the pair got into another argument in Berwick lookout, with Rankine upping the violence, leaving the victim with large facial lacerations that required treatment at hospital.
The court heard there was a “significant amount of bleeding” from the injuries.
On May 5, police were called to the Berwick Inn where Rankine was staying and arrested him, and found two shotgun shells in his pocket, a screwdriver tucked into his waistband and a bag of meth.
Police also searched his car and found a double barrel shotgun and a vial of GHB.
The court heard Rankine had completed a parole period shortly before this offending occurred.
Ms Karla Volomino for defence submitted when Rankine was released on parole it was the New Year’s Eve period and his dog passed away, making it a “challenging time”.
Ms Volomino told the court Rankine had a problem with drugs and they were a big contributing factor to his already “poor anger management issues”.
“He gets out and sabotages himself as soon as drugs are involved,” she said.
Rankine will reappear for sentencing at a later date.
