Darren Love, Josef Salari, Gaetan Van Rompaey, Shaun Langdon and Geoffrey Tubb front Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court
A man has been ordered off the roads for a staggering amount of time as the latest bunch of scallywags, crooks and lowlifes faced Moorabbin court.
South East
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A man who collided with a car and didn’t leave a note, a man driving unlicensed and under the influence of a prescribed illicit drug and a man who drove on the wrong side of the road before causing an accident have all fronted a court in Melbourne’s southeast.
Darren Love
A man who drove on the wrong side of the road causing a collision in March 2022 has fronted Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court.
Darren Love appeared in the court on March 16 pleading guilty to three charges of driving unlicensed.
The court heard Love was seen driving on the wrong side of Westall Rd in Clayton South last year, before crossing an intersection and hitting an oncoming car.
The court heard prior to the collision, Love made no effort to stop or slow down.
After the collision, the victim immediately pulled his car over and put his hazard lights on before approaching Love.
The court heard the victim had attempted talking to Love, and subsequently called the police as he thought Love would drive off.
Police were able to interview Love on April 8, when he admitted to driving unlicensed and being in the collision.
The court heard Love claimed the victim “did not speak English”, and that he “did not speak to the him.”
Despite having admitted to being in the collision, the court heard Love also told police he “did not recall the collision,” and that he “may have blacked out”.
The court heard Love had a significant amount of priors in relation to driving unlicensed, leaving him vulnerable to a prison sentence.
Love’s lawyer, Adrian Dessi, fought strongly to avoid imprisonment, due to a deteriorating medical condition.
“Mr Love’s physical health has deteriorated significantly since a year ago, and there has been nothing else brought by police,” he said.
“He suffers from severe scoliosis, and his ability to get into a car and drive is a very difficult process — and will not be a threat going forward as his condition continues to worsen.”
Mr Dessi asked Magistrate Starvaggi for a financial penalty, rather than imprisonment.
“Given that Mr Love doesn’t have direct access to a vehicle and would find it incredibly difficult to get into one and drive, as well as his early guilty plea, we are asking for a financial penalty,” he said.
Magistrate Starvaggi was not convinced a fine would be sufficient in preventing Love from getting back behind the wheel.
“The accused has a significant history of driving unlicensed, showing that monetary penalties have been ineffective in the past,” he said.
“Why he hasn’t been charged with dangerous driving flummoxes me, but that is an issue for police.”
Mr Dessi told the court a financial penalty was the most reasonable solution, as his client’s condition wouldn’t allow him to perform community service, and his needs for NDIS assistance would make imprisonment a difficult exercise.
“I acknowledge this is something that would normally move up the sentencing scale, but his health is an important element here,” he said.
“He has no access to a car and his scoliosis deterioration means his ability to hop into a car and drive is something that he won’t be able to do.”
“His personal circumstances are where I am pitching my submissions from Your Honour.”
Magistrate Starvaggi took Mr Dessi’s submissions into account when sentencing Love.
“I’ve had regard to his circumstances, and his deteriorating health,” he said.
“With conviction, I’m imposing an aggregate fine of $2500. I’m also cancelling his licence and disqualifying him from driving in Victoria for 25 years.”
“Mr Love, if you get into the drivers side of a car in the next 25 years, you will more than likely go to jail.”
Josef Salari
A Frankston man has pleaded guilty to not reporting a collision after a bystander dobbed him in.
Josef Salari fronted Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on March 16, after colliding with a parked car in Clayton last year.
The court heard the victim had parked their car on Clayton Rd on May 3, 2022, before going shopping.
The victim returned to find their car significantly damaged along the right side.
A witness had seen Salari drive into the parked vehicle, damaging the rear and right-side door, before driving away.
The court heard Salari made no attempt to leave his details on the damaged car, and did not report the collision to police.
The witness entered a store close to the scene of the accident and left Salari’s number plate information with the shopkeeper.
The court heard the shopkeeper passed on the information to the victim, who then reported the collision to the police.
The court heard that when Salari was approached by police regarding the incident and asked why he failed to report it, he claimed he didn’t know he’d damaged the other car.
“I would have stopped if I had known,” he said.
Magistrate David Starvaggi fined Salari $600 with conviction, but did not disqualify his licence.
Gaetan Van Rompaey
A man has appeared in court after being caught driving unlicensed with an illicit prescribed drug in his system.
Gaetan Van Rompaey pleaded guilty in Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on March 16, after being caught driving with a disqualified licence in November last year.
The court heard Van Rompaey was intercepted by police in Windsor on November 9 and asked to identify himself.
Van Rompaey gave his details but could not produce a license.
The court heard that police confirmed his identity, finding his licence had been suspended due to demerit points.
His licence was set to be returned to him the following day.
Officers then asked him to undertake a breath test and an oral fluid test.
Van Rompaey returned a positive oral fluid test for having a prescribed illicit drug in his system at the time of driving.
Magistrate Starvaggi fined him $400 without conviction, and disqualified his licence for six months.
Van Rompaey asked Magistrate Starvaggi if there was any way he could have an exemption for the licence cancellation.
“Is there a way the cancellation can be shorter, Your Honour, as I need my car for work?” he requested.
Magistrate Starvaggi told the court the cancellation was out of his hands.
“It’s a parliamentary mandate, Mr Van Rompaey,” he said.
“There is a minimum cancellation time period that we are required to implement, which I have given you.
“There are no exceptions.”
Magistrate Starvaggi did however, enable the licence disqualification to begin from midnight on March 17, to enable Van Rompaey to drive home from court.
Geoffrey Tubb
A man fronted Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court after being caught on CCTV breaking and entering a Parkdale home.
The court heard Geoffrey Tubb broke into a Parkdale home in September 2021 with his co-accused, where they stole $1000 in cash and various furniture items.
Caught on CCTV camera, the duo jumped over the back fence of the property, before breaking in through the back door.
The court heard both Tubb and his co-accused went through the property looking for items to steal, before leaving the house.
They returned later that evening, again entering the house through the back door, and used their phone torches to guide themselves through the home.
The court heard the CCTV footage showed Tubb and his co-accused going through the kitchen cupboards, where they found the $1000 in cash.
The court heard Tubb and his co-accused knew the resident of the home, and that the victim had been taken to hospital the day before the duo broke in.
The break-in was reported to police by a witness, and through the CCTV both thieves were identified.
The court heard Tubb was arrested at his home a few days later, where he admitted to breaking into the house.
The court heard he admitted to undertaking a “reconnaissance of the property” to get furniture back for his co-accused.
Tubb’s lawyer, Tania Bolton fought hard for a non conviction.
“Mr Tubb is an experienced disability care worker, he has been doing this work since 1992,” she said.
“The co-accused has a higher level of involvement in this crime, and that should be reflected in the punishments they receive.”
“The co-accused was given a good behaviour bond and a non-conviction. We are asking for an undertaking without a conviction.”
Magistrate Starvaggi granted Ms Bolton’s request, sentencing Tubb with a six-month undertaking and no conviction.
Shaun Langdon
A man caught speeding while disqualified has appeared in Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court.
Shaun Langdon was caught driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit in May 2022.
The court heard Langdon had been sent licence disqualification notices via mail, but told police he had “not received them”.
Langdon was caught driving disqualified again in June, and a third time on October 7.
The court heard officers witnessed a car travelling along Kooyong Rd in Armadale and undertook a random plate check.
The car was then intercepted, as records showed the car’s owner was a suspended driver.
Langdon was required to undertake both a breath test and an oral fluid test.
The court heard he returned a negative result for alcohol, but did have an illicit prescribed drug in his system.
The court heard Langdon told police he had consumed cannabis the day before.
The court heard his car had been impounded for 30 days, costing $932.40.
Langdon’s lawyer Adrian Dessi asked Magistrate Starvaggi to avoid sentencing Langdon to a term of imprisonment.
“This is the first time Mr Langdon has appeared in court for driving without a licence, Your Honour,” he said.
“Mr Langdon is currently unemployed and on Centrelink payments, but he is actively looking for work.”
Magistrate Starvaggi took into account Langon’s guilty plea and his lack of prior convictions.
“I’m fining you an aggregate amount of $1200, without conviction,” he said.
“However, I’m also disqualifying your licence for six months.”
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