Dreadlocks druggie Dean Swinkels faces court over ex-girlfriend assault and threat to kill charges
A funky-haired Frankston concreter caught busting curfew at a Cranbourne drug den now faces charges over allegedly attacking his ex three times. And he has had a crack at getting bail.
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A curfew-busting dreadlocked druggie has again faced court, this time for allegedly attacking his ex-partner three times.
Dean Gordon Swinkels is accused of driving with her on his car bonnet, punching her in the face and threatening to kill her in separate incidents spanning three months.
The 30-year-old Frankston concreter applied for bail at the online sitting of the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
But his bid for freedom had to be adjourned due to a potential address that he was being considered to be bailed to was far from ideal.
Officers say they were “43 police incidents” at the suggested Tootgarook property in 2020 involving drugs, violence or thefts.
On Thursday the court heard in January this year Swinkels is alleged to have punched his then girlfriend, and mother of their young child, leaving her with a swollen eye.
In March he is accused of driving with her clinging to his car bonnet, braking harshly to try and make her fall off.
And in April as she drove to the airport he is alleged to have texted her messages threatening to kill her.
The police don’t consider him a high risk of attacking her again as she has moved to Western Australia, but they do believe the “heavy drug user” will continue to reoffend by taking ice.
Earlier this month Swinkels pleaded guilty to drug possession, driving, bail and Chief Health Officer breach charges.
He was a passenger in a car seen by police parked outside a notorious Cranbourne North drug den at 1am on August 19.
When officers searched the curfew-breaker they found an ice pipe and a small quantity of meth in his satchel and 20ml of GHB in his jacket.
He said the reason he was out at 1am was because he had to “pick up a phone charger” to replenish his battery otherwise he wouldn’t know where his morning job was.
Swinkels was convicted and fined a total of $2300, as well as losing a bail security of $2000.
On Thursday his defence lawyer said he disputed many of these assault charges, the police case was missing statements from the woman and there were no phone records of the alleged threats.
Magistrate Julian Ayres said the proposed address was problematic, as was Swinkels’ perceived inability to remain drug-free and abide by bail conditions as evidenced by the case earlier this month.
He said time for a court report to be compiled and for the defence to possibly find a different bail address was required.
Swinkels was remanded in custody and his bail application will continue on October 12.
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