Bei Bingai Chho: Young Laverton thug convicted over ‘gang’ attack

A Laverton thug went on a week-long gang rampage across Wyndham, bashing strangers and causing mayhem on roads.

The “worst kind of coward” went on a teen gang rampage across Wyndham, bashing strangers and causing mayhem on roads, a court has heard.

Bei Bingai Chho appeared in Werribee Magistrate’s Court this week pleading guilty to three charges relating to a serious car crash, beating up multiple strangers, car theft and running a delivery driver off the road over a week period in November last year.

A police prosecutor told the court the 19-year-old thug from Laverton was the “worst kind of coward”.

The court heard Chho was travelling in a car with three mates in Hobsons Bay about 3.30am on November 7 when the vehicle lost control going around a roundabout at speed.

The car smashed into a Honda dealership, writing off one car and seriously damaging another.

Prosecutors said the four youths were pictured on CCTV “walking around the lot” before a security guard arrived and confronted the group.

He was bashed by Chho’s co-offenders and his black work SUV was stolen by the group although police stressed there was no allegation Chho was involved in the assault.

Two hours later the stolen vehicle rammed a 34-year-old newspaper delivery man off the road after the group accused the driver of “following them”.

The truck spun out of control and slammed into a tree in Deer Park. Before the crash Chho was captured on dashcam footage throwing empty alcohol bottles at the vehicle.

Eight days later, Chho was arrested after he and another young man bashed a 36-year-old unconscious after he complained they were causing a scene at the back of a bus.

“The group were slapping patrons on the back of the head,” a police prosecutor said.

“The victim approached the bus driver asking him to call the police when the accused approached and started punching him to the head.”

The court heard Chho was arrested a short time later covered in the man’s blood.

Chho’s lawyer, Marco Man, said the young man came from a loving family with “strong family supports”, but had fallen off the wagon and was using drugs.

He said the 19-year-old had spent more than 300 days in custody at Port Phillip Prison, requesting he be released and given a community corrections order with supervision.

But police argued the “appallingly bad” offending required serious punishment to deter Chho from reoffending.

“He relies on a group or a gang of offenders to find his courage,” the police prosecutor said.

“On each occasion a person is going about their normal business and is attacked as soon as they show any resistance.”

As part of a plea deal, 11 charges against Chho were withdrawn as he entered guilty pleas to assault, theft and reckless conduct endangering life.

The matter was remanded until October 28 by Mr Wardell for sentence, who agreed the offending was “very serious”.

“The group he’s been associating with warrants him being supervised in the community when he is inevitably released,” he said.

The matter will return on that date after Chho is assessed for a community corrections order.