Three-month drug-fueled crime spree earns Carrum Downs man eight months jail

By Alecia Pinner

A CARRUM Downs man who went on a three-month, drug-fuelled crime spree throughout the south-eastern suburbs could be out of jail in eight months.

Twenty-year-old Aaron Gary Vilbro faced 107 charges when he appeared in the Frankston Magistrates Court last Tuesday.

Magistrate Rodney Crisp sentenced Vilbro to 15 months imprisonment with an eight-month non-parole period He has already spent 133 days in custody.

He was also disqualified from holding a licence for three years.

When the charges were consolidated, Vilbro pleaded guilty to 42 charges, the most serious of which was reckless conduct endangering life relating to two police pursuits on January 15 and 26 this year.

The court heard he had a poor demeanour, showed no remorse and denied involvement in the crimes when interviewed by police.

Vilbro had breached a previous 12-month community order and had previously admitted to the court that he used $100 worth of crystal methamphetamine daily.

Mr Crisp said a community correction order was not a reasonable option. ‘‘This is one of the worst kinds of conduct endangering life,’’ he said.

Vilbro’s defence lawyer Cara Litterick said her client ‘‘was significantly drug-affected’’ when he offended.

She said Vilbro had undergone detoxification, education and rehabilitation in custody and realised how differently he behaved when using the drug.

Mr Crisp said Vilbro was too old for youth detention and would have a better chance of managing his addiction in adult imprisonment.

‘‘It is going to be your best bet as far as drying up is concerned,’’ he said to Vilbro.

2011

May 8: Vilbro drives an unregistered car, without a licence, on the Western Port Highway in Cranbourne.

Aug 13: Drives without a licence in Sandhurst. Car impounded.

Nov 24-29: Sets fire to a stolen car in Cranbourne North, steals number plates in Cranbourne, steals two vehicles in Kilsyth South.

Dec 4-6: Steals three vehicles from Tyabb and Frankston, steals cash and other property from Tyabb, Hastings, Sandhurst and Carrum Downs.

Dec 7-8: Tries to steal a motorbike from Tyabb, steals a 4WD from Tyabb.

Dec 11: Steals property valued at $6500 from Tyabb.

Dec 14: Steals a horse float from Lysterfield.

Dec 15-16: Steals $10,000 worth of

copper piping from Skye, burgles a house

in Narre Warren North.

Dec 19: Arrested, charged with some of the thefts and released on bail on Boxing Day.

2012

Jan 15: Drives without a licence in Wheelers Hill, leads police on a pursuit before crashing into a police car, injuring two passengers.

Jan 20: Steals a utility from Devon Meadows, a trailer from Somerville, number plates from Patterson Lakes and petrol from Lyndhurst.

Jan 21: Steals a quad bike and tools from Lysterfield.

Jan 23-24: Steals property in Bittern, Lysterfield and Skye. Petrol drive-off in Frankston.

Jan 25: Breaks into a motorcycle shop in Dandenong and tries to steal a motorbike.

Jan 26: Leads police on an 18-minute pursuit through Lysterfield Park, Narre Warren North, Hampton Park and Dandenong South.