The Court: Dandenong Magistrates Court
The Lawyer: Samantha Bawick
The Charges:
- Theft
- Going Equipped to Steal
- Driving While Suspended
- Using False Registration Plates
The Allegations:
The client was alleged to have driven past a commercial factory in Dandenong and noticed a trailer parked in the rear yard. Using a pair of bolt cutters, which he had in his vehicle, he cut through the perimeter fence, entered the premises unlawfully and stole the trailer, valued at $2,500. He was driving while his license was suspended and had affixed false registration plates to the trailer.
The incident was captured on CCTV footage, and police located the client the following day after he attempted to sell the trailer online. He was arrested and made full admissions to the police during the recorded interview.
At Court:
The client pleaded guilty to all charges at the earliest opportunity. He had limited prior criminal history, mostly traffic-related priors. Between the date of offending and the time the matter went before a Magistrate, he had turned his life around. He had engaged in full time employment and was also seeing a psychologist to manage his mental health.
Our solicitor made lengthy submissions to the Magistrate on the day of the plea including the client’s remorse and cooperation with police, the fact he was unemployed at the time of offending and suffering from financial hardship, which ultimately led to the theft; however was now in gainful employment and engaged in services to assist his mental health.
The Outcome:
The Magistrate took into account the client’s lack of prior convictions, his early plea, and cooperation with the police, and imposed a fine of $1,200 with conviction. Following further submissions by our solicitor, the Magistrate opted not to further interfere with the client’s driver’s licence and did not make an order on the client’s licence.
