Young man faces D-Day in court over violent offending

A violent Echuca thug threatened a homeless woman with a machete and took off in her car before a dramatic arrest a short time later.

A carjacker who threatened a homeless woman with a machete and stole her car wants to focus on work and his family rather than crime.

Levi Jones, 23, of Echuca, appeared for a plea hearing in the Koori Court on Wednesday having earlier pleaded guilty to one charge of carjacking using a weapon and another of theft of petrol.

Jones approached a 44-year-old woman with four kids who had been using a friend’s car to store her belongings on Dickson St in Sunshine about 12.55am on May 22 last year.

Jones told her “get out and give me the keys” while holding a machete.

Levi Jones told a woman to get out of the car and give him the keys while holding a machete in a carjacking incident in Sunshine.

The police Air Wing spotted the car, a 2006 Holden HSV Senator, a short time later on Ballarat Rd as Jones made his way to Gisborne, before dumping the car on Frith St and jumping over fences at nearby homes, briefly slipping and falling.

Police arrested him on Beech Crt less than an hour after the ordeal and found the machete inside the Holden.

Judge David Sexton said Jones was on bail at the time and in breach of his parole for a violent attack

“These types of offences home invasions, aggravated burglaries, aggravated carjacking with violence are at an epidemic proportion and general deterrence is a very significant factor. This type of behavior just cannot be tolerated by courts on behalf of the community,” he said.

Levi Jones seen here in police helicopter footage trying to escape arrest, running through residential streets in Gisborne. Picture: VicPol

Prosecutor Olivia Sparrow said the victim’s children were not present during the carjacking.

Jones told Judge Sexton that prior to the carjacking, he had been working in a timber production factory but quit due to his mental health.

“I’ve been on this path for a long time and I am just trying to break the cycle, so this time in custody, am trying to keep my head down and do as many behavioral and drug deterrence courses as I can,’’ he said,

“I am really trying to fix my mental health. I feel awful to what I’ve done to her. I’d hate if it was my sister or mu mum so my end goal would be to change the person I am.

“Just get out and focus on work, kids and leave out all the “nonsense” in the past.”

Jones was remanded back in custody for sentencing on February 27.