Failed tennis prodigy Dino Dattoli to fight assault, unlawful imprisonment charges
A Melbourne man whose short-lived tennis career included playing Roger Federer is fighting dozens of charges over his alleged involvement in a violent Preston home invasion.
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A failed tennis prodigy who went head-to-head with Roger Federer will fight charges of assault and unlawful imprisonment in an alleged armed home invasion in Melbourne’s northeast.
Dino Dattoli, whose short-lived professional career ended after a serious motorbike crash abroad, is facing dozens of charges over his alleged role in a violent aggravated burglary in Preston on July 28 last year.
Charge sheets show the 43-year-old Preston man was allegedly armed with a handgun, garden shovel and flick knife when he trespassed into the home with two co-accused, Emma Ezergailis and Adam Needham.
Dattoli, who was on bail at the time, is accused of unlawful assault, intentionally causing injury, property damage and detaining several people against their will.
The documents show on August 4 police raided his home where they allegedly uncovered a sawn off shotgun, handgun, homemade silencer, cartridge ammunition, two extendible batons, cash and drugs including methamphetamine, 1,4 Butanediol, cannabis and various precursor chemicals.
Dattoli pleaded not guilty to the charges during a Melbourne Magistrates’ Court hearing on Friday.
His bail was extended on the provision he does not leave the state or country ahead of his October 13 trial.
The court heard police had uncovered his DNA on the shovel and phone tower records put him in the vicinity of the crime scene.
When asked by police during the raid of his home if any firearms were hidden, the court heard he pointed to a wardrobe and stated, “Up there, yeah”.
Dattoli’s lawyer told the court a complainant refused to give evidence during the police investigation.
“It’s not clear to me how a jury could find him guilty if the complainant is not available to give evidence,” his lawyer said.
However Magistrate Timothy Greenway found there was sufficient evidence for Dattoli to stand trial.
Ezergailis has pleaded guilty to her role in the alleged home invasion and will be sentenced in the County Court of Victoria on October 2.
Needham will face a pre-sentence hearing on November 29.
Dattoli was a star tennis player who competed on the junior Australian circuit prior to a brief professional career.
He competed on the European circuit where he went toe-to-toe with star players including all-time great Roger Federer.
His career came to a crashing end after he sustained serious injuries while riding a motorbike in Germany.
Dattoli attempted a comeback but was unsuccessful and later coached tennis before shifting to the UK where he worked as a property developer.
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