Ice-addled thief grabbed cop by her throat to try and avoid arrest
A homeless man high on ice and booze went to a Dandenong squat to score a ciggie, but events soon spiralled out of control.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A shirtless thief high on ice and alcohol who grabbed a cop by her throat as he tried to avoid arrest has been remanded in custody.
Jason Steynen attacked the female police officer in an effort to escape the law after he had attempted to rob a woman at a Dandenong squat house.
The 24-year-old homeless man, who had only been released from prison a month before, pleaded guilty to eight assault, theft and bail breach charges at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
He also admitted stealing a backpack from Kmart at Dandenong Plaza and nicking confectionery and coffee cups from a Dandenong 7-Eleven store.
The court heard Steynen, who wasn’t wearing a shirt, went to the boarded-up Dandenong property on August 23 this year and climbed through a window.
Once inside he asked a woman for a cigarette, and when she offered him one, he stole the whole packet.
He then tried to grab her handbag and phone but she managed to hold on to her valuables and Steynen ran off.
A police patrol was nearby and saw him leg it into a nearby block of units and officers gave chase.
He was then seen by a neighbour and offered a T-shirt, which he took, before going inside the house and barricading himself in the bathroom.
As police tried to get him out he barged through the door and ran into the bedroom where a wrestle ensued.
During the scuffle he reached out and grabbed the female officer’s throat and squeezed her neck.
Even after he was punched in the face by the woman’s colleague he continued his stranglehold until more police arrived and overpowered him.
The female officer suffered a large red welt to her neck and was sore after the attack.
When arrested Steynen was believed to be badly substance-affected and not able to be interviewed.
His defence lawyer told the court he had struggled with drug issues, mainly cannabis and ice, since he left school.
He said at the time he was “in a heightened state” after taking methamphetamines and drinking alcohol and those substances had adversely affected his anxiety and mental health.
He said Steynen, who has already spent 112 days on remand, didn’t intentionally assault the officer but was desperate to avoid being arrested again.
Magistrate Andrew Halse said considering his lengthy priors and very recent offending he faced more time behind bars before being released on a community corrections order — if he was found suitable.
Steynen was remanded in custody for an assessment and will be sentenced on December 16.
