Frankston, Moorabbin and Dandenong magistrates’ court cases heard in the past week
A bad case of school pick-up road rage, a friendly drug dealer, a bikini-loving shoplifter and a tanked-up mowing man feature in this week’s haul of suburban court shame.
South East
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Melbourne’s magistrates’ courts are a hive of activity and the ones in the city’s southeast are no exception.
Here are some of the cases heard in Dandenong, Frankston and Moorabbin’s magistrates’ courts over the past week:
MOORABBIN MAGISTRATES’ COURT
Anyone for beach basketball?
A shoplifter says she nicked clothing and sports goods, including a bikini and a basketball, from several Southland stores because she had no money. On January 15 this year the 51-year-old mother of six was caught by an alert Kmart loss prevention officer after he saw her stealing clothing from the store. When she was arrested it was discovered she had also stolen a basketball from Rebel Sports, and a bikini set and children’s clothing from Cotton On. Her defence lawyer said their client had suffered financial problems due to the ill health of her husband and was seeing her doctor for mental health issues. The magistrate gave the woman, who has no criminal priors, a 12-month good behaviour bond.
Wine not fine
A gardener nabbed four times over the legal limit has told the court he was only moving his car to mow the lawn. The 48-year-old was caught drink driving on December 5 last year, blowing an alcohol reading of .228. The court heard police saw him parked on a nature strip in Aspendale Gardens with his engine running. He drove a few metres, then stopped. Perplexed police pulled him up and asked what he was doing. He said he was moving the car to mow the nature strip grass. The issue was he had drunk two bottles of wine. He was also unlicensed at the time. The man’s defence lawyer said his client had problems with booze and had done several detoxes, but relapsed. The man was sent for a community corrections order assessment, and warned he faced a very long time off the road due to his poor driving record.
FRANKSTON MAGISTRATES’ COURT
Impatient parent learns his lesson
A father has abused two mothers and busted a car door mirror in a fit of parenting pique because he was angry at their slow driving. The irate 50-year-old self-employed carpenter ranted and raved at the drivers near a Frankston primary school about 3.35pm on December 13 last year. The court heard he became impatient at what he perceived was their sluggishness, repeatedly beeping his horn before getting out and banging on a car window. He yelled and swore at the car’s female driver and a motorist in a second car, smashing the glass on a car door mirror in the process. The man’s defence lawyer said his client was “ashamed and very disappointed” in his own actions. The magistrate said the man’s “brain snap” was a terrible reflection on his character. He was given a 12-month good behaviour bond and must pay $500 to the court fund.
Who needs friends like these?
A Kiwi construction worker who sold cannabis to his mates as a cheap favour has been ordered to do community work. The 36-year-old was pinged by drug squad officers in a Boxing Day raid at a Cranbourne house where he was living with his landlord. Cops found around 40 plants, seedlings, and around 70g in loose cannabis in the morning sting. On his phone were records of drug dealing transactions. The New Zealander admitted he had brought cannabis from his landlord and on-sold it at a marginally higher rate to his mates around six to eight times. His defence lawyer said if his friends asked him to supply, he obliged, but he didn’t do drugs himself and had now moved out of that social circle. The magistrate said it was not a good look for the man, who was otherwise of good character, to have trafficking on his criminal history, and gave him 100 hours of community work.
COURT WRAP: DRUGGIES, BUS DRIVERS AND GAMBLERS
MATE KILLING DRUNK DRIVER BACK BEHIND BARS
DANDENONG MAGISTRATES’ COURT
Not coming up trumps
A family feud over a piggy bank and a card game has ended up with the dad facing assault charges in court. The man, his wife and their son were playing a game of cards at their Berwick home with the wife’s sister and her mum when things turned nasty in March this year. The mum ‘borrowed’ a few gold coins from the child’s piggy bank to play the game when the dad allegedly lost his temper and ordered the guests to leave. He then allegedly pushed, punched and slapped his wife, leaving her with small cut to her lip. The man’s lawyer said he disputed the charges, saying while accepted there was an argument, there was no violence. The case will go to a contested hearing in August.
Legal wrangling over Wells’ brother’s case
Dozens of charges laid against Ryan Wells’ brother have been adjourned because they may be too serious to be heard in a magistrates’ court. Joel Wells, of Somerville, faces a plethora of charges including arson, burglaries, thefts, property damage and bail breaches for alleged offences committed across the southeast suburbs and Gippsland. The court heard the potential jail sentence that may be given to Mr Wells if he was found guilty or pleaded guilty could be above the maximum that a magistrate could impose. The case was adjourned until August for discussions on whether or not his matters will go to the County Court. A co-accused has also been charged with similar offending. Ryan Wells was last month jailed for a Frankston one-punch assault, but appealed and is out on bail.