Drug-dealing motorbike thief found hiding in Mornington shed with cannabis and cash in his backpack
A man who dropped in on his ex-girlfriend in Mornington was carrying a whole bag of trouble. And when the police arrived, the crook’s attempts at finding a good hiding spot were left wanting.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A motorbike-stealing drug dealer was nabbed by police hiding in his ex-girlfriend’s shed with a backpack full of dope.
Jesse Tovey wasn’t meant to be at her Mornington house because of a court order when he was caught with cannabis, drug-dealing equipment, stolen watches and bundles of cash.
The 25-year-old Hastings man had ridden there on a stolen motorbike that had been taken in a Red Hill burglary.
He was also pinged with stealing a second motorbike from the same location when pictures of him on that nicked ride were uncovered on a phone.
Tovey pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, motorbike thefts, proceeds of crime, driving and court order breach charges at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
The court heard police were called to a Mornington home at around 2am on May 12 this year.
The found the unregistered stolen bike outside and after a search uncovered Tovey hiding in a shed.
In his backpack there were boxes of prescription tablets in someone else’s name, several small bags of cannabis weighing a total of 236g, and three stolen watches.
They also found $2350 in cash, deal bags, digital scales and a phone used for trafficking which contained contacts and “slang terms consistent with dealing cannabis and methamphetamine”.
Tovey told police the money was “a loan off of his brother”, he had bought the watches online and the prescription medication was for his mum.
He didn’t comment regarding the drug-dealing charges or the thefts of the two bikes.
His defence lawyer said he sold to support his drug habits as he has been smoking cannabis since the age of 12 and taking ice from 14 to cope with anxiety and joint pain problems.
She said he had already spent 65 days in custody and “knows he needs to clean up his act”.
She asked for a jail sentence of time served to be followed by a community corrections order to treat his drug and mental health issues.
Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge said Tovey needed to spend more time behind bars and then he would be considered for an order.
“He just doesn’t seem to get the message,” Mr Lethbridge said.
“He’s been in jail so many times, in 2016, 2017 and again in 2019 — what is it going to take?
“He won’t be released (from custody) today, or for some time.”
Mr Lethbridge adjourned the case for a corrections assessment, saying it will follow on from whatever period of jail he imposed.
MORE COURT NEWS
TRUCKIE'S ALLEGED ‘GARGASOULAS’ THREAT TO MOW DOWN SHOPPERS