Fake security guard Aaron Purves in strife for “thumbing his nose” at court order
A fake security guard who roamed Melbourne’s CBD with a gun just days after the Bourke St rampage, failed to complete single hour of his court ordered community work despite being spared a prison term.
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A fake security guard who roamed Melbourne’s CBD with a loaded gun strapped to his thigh just days after the Bourke St rampage has been slammed by a judge for making a mockery of his get out of jail free card.
Aaron Purves was sentenced to 12 months jail for falsifying his private security and gun licence but immediately appealed, pleading with County Court Judge Michael Tinney to spare him a prison term.
Purves, 29, was instead handed a two year community corrections order in February last year.
The second chance came with the condition he complete 400 hours of unpaid work.
But the wannabe GI Joe was hauled back before Judge Tinney this week after it was revealed he had not completed one single hour of his court ordered community work and had gone MIA from his Corrections Victoria appointments, clocking up 11 unacceptable absences.
Purves had instead spent his time as a free man getting a new girlfriend, buying a house, working full time and playing football.
The Herald Sun can reveal he even managed to claim St Kilda City football club’s Best and Fairest title last year.
Despite this, his lawyer claimed he had been unable to complete his CCO due to the anxiety caused by the negative media attention after he was photographed in black commando gear and carrying a semiautomatic gun at the scene of the Bourke St memorial just days after the tragedy in January 2017.
He pleaded guilty to 160 offences including multiple counts of a non-prohibited person possessing a general category handgun without licence, acting as a security guard without a licence, and making and using false documents.
“My client has isolated himself … he had this phobia people were looking at him,” defence barrister Sharon Kermath said.
In an email read to the court, Purves claimed he couldn’t walk down the street without “people whispering” about him and he “copped s**t” from rival players on the footy field.
“I didn’t deserve to be publicly humiliated,” he wrote.
But Judge Tinney said it was all “gobbledygook”.
He told a sullen Purves this was one of the worst noncompliances he had seen in a long time and his attempts to abide by the order as “pathetic”.
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“I allowed his appeal and he didn’t get sent to prison,” Judge Tinney said.
“It’s a fiasco … he’s made not the slightest effort,”
“He has thumbed his nose at the court,” he said.
Purves told court staff he was feeling unwell and asked to get some air as Judge Tinney told him he was considering sending him straight to prison for his breach.
He instead gave Purves a two-month reprieve and one more chance to comply with his order.
“The slightest misstep on that order and its game, set and match,” Judge Tinney warned.
“I may yet lock him up.”
Purves will return to court in September.