By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Police were left dumfounded when a vehicle with stolen numberplates was itself apparently stolen while officers were questioning the accused Avonsleigh driver.
They had intended to impound the gold Holden Statesman but instead found a rock and shattered glass in its place at Dandenong Motel car park.
Joel Strickland, 24, of Avonsleigh, told Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 18 September that he hadn’t returned to the vehicle and had “no idea” where the car was.
“I have no further dealings with the car,” he said.
On his arrest on 1 May, Strickland had handed the car’s keys to police to impound the vehicle, due to his multiple offences as a suspended driver.
After a police interview, Strickland was then given 15 minutes to return to the car and collect his belongings before the car was to be taken away, he told the court.
Strickland made no admissions during the interview, claiming to have bought the car with the stolen plates a week and a half earlier, police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Adam Green said.
The plates had been reported stolen from Pakenham three days earlier.
A co-accused’s red bag holding 16 ecstasy tablets, amphetamines, deal bags, cash and scales were seized from the car.
Also found were two orange steel poles believed to be used as weapons, and a large kitchen knife under the driver’s seat.
Strickland told police that his kids must have been playing with the poles, and the knife was used to fix the sunroof.
He was also charged over driving unlicensed and driving an unregistered vehicle in Pakenham on 5 March, and with the theft of a number plate on 2 April.
He was on a community corrections order at the time.
Strickland’s lawyer said the accused was aware he shouldn’t be driving but was living “something of a chaotic life” under the effects of regular ice use up until 1 May.
Strickland had since found full-time work and was in a more “stable situation” to comply with his community corrections order, the lawyer said.
“He’s managed to stop offending since May.”
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said he didn’t see the point of putting Strickland back onto a CCO.
“I don’t see what a corrections order can do (for him) anymore.”
Mr Vandersteen noted Strickland’s personal hardships including losing his home and possessions in a fire in August.
Strickland had spent some time in remand custody. He, his partner and children were now living with his partner’s relatives where he was “valued as a human being”, Mr Vandersteen said.
He fined Strickland $1200 with conviction, and cancelled the CCO.
Police unsuccessfully applied to the court for the forfeiture of the Statesman.
“There isn’t anything you can do,” Mr Vandersteen said.
“The car disappeared while he was in police custody.”
