Underworld figure Peter John Allen back in court accused of aggravated burglary
One of the few remaining members of a Melbourne family is accused of being involved in a shocking burglary, a court has heard.
An underworld identity told his accomplice “this is shit mate” during an aggravated burglary where the victim was tasered, a court has heard.
Peter John Allen applied for bail in the County Court of Victoria on Wednesday and is charged with aggravated burglary, theft, common assault and drug possession on November 2, 2018.
The ageing 67-year-old Mr Allen is one of Kath Pettingill’s six sons and the brother of the late Dennis Bruce Allen, a drug dealer and murderer.
His other brothers included gangland victim Victor Peirce and career criminal Trevor Pettingill, both were acquitted of the 1988 Walsh St police murders.
The film Animal Kingdom is based loosely on the Pettingill family and the police shootings.
Mr Allen is accused of being involved in an aggravated burglary in which his alleged accomplice, who has been jailed, tasered a man.
Mr Allen’s lawyer Anna Dixon told the court her client was “certainly getting on” in terms of his age and he should be granted bail because of the delay.
She said he was not an unacceptable risk and had ongoing health issues.
Judge Amanda Fox noted his prior stints in jail had a limited impact on his behaviour.
“It doesn’t seem custody has a salutary effect on him,” she said.
The court heard Mr Allen was captured on recordings saying that he wanted to leave.
“This is shit mate, come on, I’m going,” he said and “get out, get out, I’m going”.
However police opposed granting bail to Mr Allen because of his lengthy criminal history, the serious nature of the crime and the risk he could commit further offences.
“They had a conversation beforehand about their intended deceit,” Detective Senior Constable Shoshanna Lew told the court.
She said there was a plan for the co-accused to hide in the hallway and remain out of sight.
The Detective said Mr Allen had a “significant” prior history dating back to his teenage years which included rape, armed robbery, serious assaults, firearms offences and drug trafficking and breaching bail.
He failed to answer bail on numerous occasions including after he was charged with stealing a $1600 terrine from an auction house and a burglary in 2017.
“These are all committing offences while on bail stacking up one on top of another and that’s my concern in relation to the bail,” Detective Senior Constable Shoshanna Lew told the court.
Prosecutors probed the Detective about why there were gaps in his criminal offending.
“There’s significant periods of time there where he’s actually incarcerated and as such would not be committing offences,” Detective Senior Constable Lew responded.
His jail terms spanned anywhere from 12 months to 12 years, the Detective told the court.
She was also concerned if he was bailed to live at an aged care facility in Elsternwick there would not be enough supervision in place.
His lawyer had arranged for him to undergo a formal risk assessment to gauge his suitability for a court assisted services program.
The bail application will continue in front of Judge Fox on Monday.
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