Dean Robertson to front Melbourne County Court after stealing a car with a baby in the back
A Frankston man who stole a car with a baby boy in the back, sparking a massive manhunt, has faced court.
South East
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A Frankston man who stole a car with a baby inside, sparking a massive manhunt, has pleaded guilty in a Melbourne court.
Dean Robertson, 46, fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 28, and pleaded guilty to stealing a car with an 11-month-old boy inside in Keysborough on March 1.
The mother of the baby was nearby looking at hard rubbish on Putt Grove at 2.10pm, when Robertson stole her car.
CCTV footage captured the distraught mother screaming and attempting to run after the car as it drove away.
The child was found safe and well in the car three and a half hours later, 18km away in Cranbourne.
Robertson appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court via video link, pleading guilty to car theft, committing an indictable offence while on bail, unlicensed driving and child stealing, however, the prosecution have dropped the kidnapping charge.
Earlier in the month, a court heard Robertson had left the child inside the car for more than two hours, while he played the pokies, got a haircut and bought clothing with $900 stolen from the mother’s purse.
Robertson’s lawyer, Amanda Hurst, told the court her client had been homeless, hadn’t eaten and had taken methamphetamines the night before the incident.
“He thought aliens were chasing him,” she said.
“He had seen the same people for a number of days and he thought they were chasing him.”
Ms Hurst told the court Robertson only realised the baby was in the car after coming back from the shops, where he found the 11-month old crying.
He then dropped the baby and car off to a woman outside a community hall in Cranbourne, and asked her to phone 000.
Robertson is set to face Melbourne County Court on April 28 next year.
gemma.scerri@news.com.au
