Matthew Walsh appears drunk in court to plead guilty to criminal damage and weapons charges
The mother of a Carnegie man who smashed the window of a Koornang Rd restaurant and stole Jack Daniels whiskey has begged a court for help for her wild son.
South East
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A man who smashed a restaurant window has had a drunken outburst in court, claiming his body is“riddled with cancer”.
Matthew Walsh pleaded guilty in the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on May 9 to one charge of criminal damage, one charge of possessing a controlled weapon, one charge of criminal damage and two charges of shoplifting.
The court heard Walsh had been drinking on May 7 in 2023 outside a restaurant on Koornang Rd in Carnegie, when he threw a glass bottle at the shopfront window.
The force of his throw caused the window to smash, frightening patrons and staff inside.
Walsh was later found by police outside Carnegie station with a paring knife.
He was taken into custody, but later deemed unfit for interview and released.
The court heard Walsh was in trouble for his drinking a second time in December, when he stole from MVJ Finest Groceries and Spices on Koornang Rd.
The court heard he stole two cans of coke and a packet of chips before arguing with staff and leaving.
Walsh was later arrested and released, again too drunk to be interviewed.
He was caught stealing from another Koornang Rd business in February this year, where he stole two bottles of 1L Jack Daniels whiskey from BWS.
Busted by police at Carnegie station, Walsh had already begun tucking into one of the stolen bottles.
Fronting court on Thursday with the support of his parents, Walsh was lethargic and refused to remove his sunglasses.
His lawyer told the court he had increased his alcohol intake over the last 12 months.
Magistrate Luisa Bazzani asked Walsh if he had come to court drunk, discovering he had been drinking taken two valium prior to attending court.
Unhappy with the questions regarding his sobriety, Walsh had an outburst, claiming he “was dying”.
“My body is riddled with cancer, let me die in my own way,” he shouted.
“I’m not hurting anyone.”
Walsh’s mother told the court she wasn’t sure how much he had drunk before court.
“We’re just not sure what to do anymore,” she said tearfully.
Ms Bazzani fined and convicted Walsh $800, warning him not to come back to court drunk or on valium again.
“If you go on damaging other people’s property and causing people to be in fear and stealing from them, you’ll be going to jail,” she said.
