Court delay for man accused of stealing car with baby boy inside

The man accused of kidnapping after he allegedly stole a car with a baby in the back seat has missed court for the second time, with officers saying he would not get out of bed.

A man accused of stealing a car with a baby boy inside has been deemed too unwell to front court for a second day.

Dean Robertson, 46, was expected to make an application for bail in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday but his case was adjourned until May amid concerns for his mental health.

The court heard Mr Robertson is being kept in isolation in a cell at Dandenong Police Station while he awaits the results of a Covid PCR test.

When custody officers tried to provide him with a phone so he could dial in and take part in his court hearing, he would not get out of bed.

“We are trying to get him out,” the custody officer told the court.

“He’s just laid back down and covered himself with a blanket.”

Mr Robertson’s lawyer Iresha Siriwardana said it was hoped Mr Robertson would be in a position in the next week to apply to be released into a psychiatric facility to get the treatment he needed.

It comes after he failed to appear on Wednesday following a series of “behavioural issues” including dialling triple-0 when given a phone to speak to his lawyer and undergo a mental health assessment.

Magistrate Rose Falla said Mr Robertson was in a “fragile” state and should be considered “high priority” to get a mental health assessment.

“It does appear he is still unwell — too unwell to give instructions to progress the matter,” Ms Falla said.

She adjourned the matter to May 24.

Hash Alfa-wal said the mother was looking at hard rubbish when her car was stolen with her child inside. Picture: Jason Edwards

Hash Alfa-wal said he saw the incident unfold in Keysborough on Tuesday afternoon. Picture: Jason Edwards

The car theft sparked a massive police hunt across southeast Melbourne on Tuesday.

A witness has claimed the mother was looking at his neighbour’s hard rubbish in Keysborough when the alleged offender stole the car.

“She was looking through the rubbish, checking out what was on the nature strip,” Hash Alfa-wal said.

“Once she jumped out of the car, he came to the right-hand side, saw that she was still busy and then proceeded to get in the car and drive off.”

A mattress, refrigerator, paint and kids toys can be seen in the pile of rubbish at a house on Putt Grove.

Mr Alfa-wal said he was in his backyard when he heard the mother yelling.

“I heard screams at the front and when I ran out, the woman was halfway up the road,” he said.

“I saw her trying to stop traffic on Corrigan Rd in a frantic way, still screaming.”

Mr Alfa-wal believes the accused was scoring drugs from a notorious house in the neighbourhood before he allegedly committed the crime.

Dean Robertson, 46, was due to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday after being charged with kidnapping, car theft, committing an indictable offence on bail and unlicensed driving.

But the court heard he had to be isolated in his cell as he was showing symptoms of Covid and was refusing to take a rapid test.

Emergency services were called to reports the white 2013 Toyota RAV 4 was stolen on Putt Grove about 2.10pm.

When handed a phone so he could communicate with his lawyer and undergo a mental health assessment, he instead dialled triple-0.

Custody supervisor Chris George told the court Mr Robertson was “just refusing to engage”.

“Due to Covid, we can’t remove him from the cell,” he said.

“He had a phone earlier. Whilst he had the phone he made numerous calls to triple-0.”

Mr Robertson’s lawyer Jack Rabl said he was able to speak to his client, but a mental health assessment had not been able to be conducted.

“Due to behavioural issues, the handing of a phone to him has not been possible,” Mr Rabl said.

He said his client had a “very significant mental health history”.

“There is a history of psychiatric illness,”he said, adding that would make him more vulnerable in custody.

A woman can be scene chasing the car as it drives off.

After taking the vehicle at 2.10pm on Tuesday in Putt Grove, the alleged thief was last seen heading east along Cheltenham Rd near Corrigan Rd as emergency services were contacted.

Police were forced to go public for help to find the white 2013 Toyota RAV4 as fears grew by the hour for the 11-month-old boy’s safety.

They quickly released CCTV images of the incident, showing the terrified mum screaming as her car was driven off.

Three and a half hours later, the baby boy was found safe and well in the car, 18km away at Cranbourne.

Police swarmed the area after the incident. Picture: Jason Edwards

A very happy inspector Fiona Halford announced the news that the baby had been found. Picture: Jason Edwards

It ended a nightmare for his parents. Police shared their jubilation when he was found safe and they were reunited.

Inspector Fiona Halford said: “I can only imagine there have been tears of joy”.

She said a tip-off from the public led directly to the arrest.

“I just cannot thank the public enough,” she said.

“It was a member of the general public who has notified police of the location, and subsequently police have attended that location and found the child safe and well.’’

Authorities had “the utmost concern for the baby’s welfare” before he was safely returned to his parents.

It is understood that the alleged thief was at first unaware of the tiny passenger in the back.