‘Not a drive-thru Macca’s’: Magistrate blasts casual crook

‘Wretched lockdown’: A deception defendant was dished up a mouthful after he appeared at an online court – sat in his car.

A magistrate has gone feral at a bloke who thought it was okay to appear before him sat in his work car, saying his online court is “not a drive-thru Macca’s”.

A magistrate has gone ballistic at a bloke who thought it was okay to appear in an online court while sat in his work car.

Gerard Lethbridge was extremely unhappy at the lack of etiquette displayed by the defendant who had to appear online because of Covid lockdown restrictions.

The man was at the virtual Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to plead guilty to a deception charge involving about $7000 he had misappropriated from Aldi.

Mr Lethbridge told him he should be taking his case a lot more seriously.

“I don’t think this is appropriate,” Mr Lethbridge said.

“You should present to court in a proper place.

“This is not a drive-thru Macca’s.”

The man’s lawyer said while she agreed it was not appropriate, she was partly to blame because she had failed to tell him where he should be situated.

Mr Lethbridge said a deception of that value could mean her client could go to jail.

“Tell him to go to an office, or a home, somewhere we can present properly,” Mr Lethbridge said.

The case was stood down to give the defendant time to organise a more sombre setting.

But when it returned in the afternoon, with him sat in a quiet room and dressed in a smart casual shirt, things didn’t get any better.

This time audio problems meant the man couldn’t hear the court.

Mr Lethbridge said the pandemic situation made judicial life hard for everyone.

“I’m not very happy about the way this is proceeding,” he said.

“A lot of people have technical difficulties, including me.

“I will adjourn to a late November date when hopefully we’ll be out of this wretched lockdown.”

He ordered the man to face court – in person – on November 24.