Matthew Sutton: Man shot at, run over after Carrum Downs drug fight
A Langwarrin man lost a fight with a drug dealer, was shot at and run down by a stolen car. Now he’s had to face court.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A ‘victim’ who was shot at and run down in a Carrum Downs street over a drug dispute has appeared in court.
Matthew Sutton had had a fight with a dealer at a nearby supermarket, in which he was continually knocked down but kept getting back up, before he walked away.
A short time after the carpark fracas he was shot at twice and then rammed by a stolen car, spending seven weeks in hospital with serious head and neck injuries.
As well as the physical and mental repercussions of the incident he now has had to face the criminal consequences of his actions.
The unemployed Langwarrin 26-year-old pleaded guilty to affray and possessing a weapon charges at the online Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
The court heard at 8am on February 16 last year Sutton’s mate was at Woolworths at the Carrum Downs Regional Shopping Centre when he came across a man he had had drug problems with in the past.
The pal phoned Sutton saying he “had been rolled” by the other man and Sutton came and joined them.
They waited for the man to finish his grocery shopping before confronting him in the carpark.
A fight followed, with Sutton using brass knuckledusters on the other man who fought back with punches of his own.
But Sutton wasn’t winning the battle and got knocked down three times before giving up and walking away.
A few minutes later he was strolling down Cadles Rd when he was fired upon twice by someone with a shotgun.
The bullets missed, but a moment later he was struck by a stolen Ford Focus and left lying face down on the footpath.
The Ford then crashed into a short pole and ended up marooned in the air, with the occupants calling for backup and being driven away in a silver Toyota.
Sutton was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The court heard the people involved in the hit and run and firearms offences are still before the courts.
Sutton’s lawyer said while affray was a serious offence, there were exceptional circumstances in this case because of what her client had gone through.
She said his injuries from the “extra-curial punishment” he had received by being run over, which involved spending 42 days in hospital, needed to be taken into account.
Magistrate Dr Michael King said while this offending was in broad daylight in front of shoppers, he would take into consideration the “punishment” Sutton had already received.
“Members of the public were exposed to a traumatic event (the affray),” Dr King said.
“People are entitled to go shopping without being exposed to this course of conduct.
“He did not need to try and resolve his differences in this manner.”
Sutton was placed on an 18-month good behaviour bond, must pay $200 to the court fund and continue his medical treatment.
