Puega Utaia fronts court over theft of car following standover tactics

A Melbourne thug has admitted his role in a frightening late-night visit to a homeowner who was forced to hand over his car keys after an imitation gun was pointed at him.

Puega Utaia has avoided jail for his role in the theft of a car after its owner was threatened with an imitation gun.

An ice addict who was part of a group that threatened a man working in his garage with an imitation firearm and stole his vehicle has dodged prison.

Puega Utaia’s argument at trial that he was allowed to drive the stolen Ford Falcon following an agreement with his owner was rejected by the jury.

The 35-year-old was convicted of theft of a motor vehicle and sentenced in the County Court on Friday to 60 days’ imprisonment but was released due to time already served.

Utaia, Michael Hibbert and David Lalotoa approached Kevin Scicluna at his Deer Park house about 11.15pm on April 29, 2023 and demanded keys to his vehicles.

Hibbert told Mr Scicluna “You better come outside because we’re going to take ya cars”.

Lalotoa pointed an imitation firearm at Mr Scicluna’s face and said “You’ve got two seconds to go get me the keys”.

A Deer Park man was threatened with an imitation firearm and his car and a motorbike stolen by three men.

Hibbert drove away in Mr Scicluna’s motorbike while Utaia stole his Ford Falcon.

Hibbert and Lalotoa pleaded guilty to their roles and were last year sentenced to minimum terms of 16 months and 20 months’ imprisonment respectively.

The Ford Falcon was located in Sunshine North two days later and Utaia was arrested on June 24, 2023 in St Albans.

He denied stealing the vehicle, saying he was permitted to drive the car as a result of an agreement he believed he had reached with Mr Scicluna.

He told the court prior to his sentencing that his actions were a “spur of the moment”decision to accompany others to Mr Scicluna’s house.

Judge Angela Ellis said although his role was largely confined to his presence at the property, the group’s presence must have been intimidating to the house owner.

“You were no doubt aware that attending a person’s house in a group and taking the motor vehicle from the occupant is unacceptable behaviour,” she said.

Utaia was acquitted on charges of armed robbery and a second charge of theft of a motor vehicle.