Daniel Skeggs: Springvale druggie dad hit the ice hard in 4-month crime spiral

A “heavy meth using” Springvale father lost his cool, his job, his licence and, for a while, his wife, after he turned to ice to ease his stress.

Daniel Skeggs hit the ice hard after his marriage broke down and he lost his job.

A scaffolder who fell into a drugged-up crime spiral because his marriage broke up and he lost his job has “done a 180” and is now drug-free, a court has heard.

During an ice-fuelled four months Daniel Skeggs punched his wife in the face and was nabbed with a gram of meth hidden in his shorts.

He also drove while banned and high on ice in an unregistered car with stolen number plates.

The Springvale 34-year-old father of two has promised to turn his life around, never take drugs again and not repeat his “out of character” offending.

A court heard his wife is supportive of Skeggs and has allowed him back into the family home on the condition he doesn’t take drugs.

He pleaded guilty to driving, common law assault, handling stolen goods and drug possession charges at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

The court heard Skeggs, who had separated from his wife of 12 years, met her at a Noble Park address in April last year to discuss ownership of two cars.

He became enraged and lashed out, punching her to the head and causing facial bruising and a cut lip.

He left and she called police.

He then returned, was arrested and spent the night in custody before being bailed.

In April last year he had been seen by police driving a car on Cheltenham Rd, Keysborough, that had stolen number plates attached.

When they pulled him over they discovered the Holden had a suspended rego and Skeggs had no valid licence.

During a search at the police station he was found to have 1g of ice in his shorts.

And in December 2019 he was nabbed driving while suspended on the same Cheltenham Rd in Keysborough in the same unregistered car.

He was high, telling officers he had partied with a mate a couple of nights before.

His defence lawyer told the court Skeggs hit the ice hard due to the separation from his wife and losing his scaffolding job.

She said he was “using meth heavily” during those four months but had now ceased, had got full-time work and was having counselling for his substance abuse issues.

He had “done a 180” since then and his life was back on track, she said.

Magistrate Costas Kilias said for someone like Skeggs, who had no court history before, it was a valuable lesson in what illicit substances could do.

“There are the fingerprints of drugs all over your criminality,” Mr Kilias said.

“You have found out how difficult life can be when you succumb to the temptation of highly addictive drugs.”

He said the “ripple effects” of ice extended far and wide.

“You have had a taste of a life that is something you won’t want to re-experience,” he said.

“Don’t throw that pebble into the water again.”

Skeggs was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond with conditions he continue his counselling, complete a behavioural change program and give $1000 to the court fund.

He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.

No conviction was recorded.