By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A 24-year-old Narre Warren drug user has been jailed over a two-month spree of thefts throughout the South East in the summer of 2017-18.
Joel Luke McCarthy pleaded guilty at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court to 33 charges including the theft of a car, handling stolen goods, assaults, driving disqualified, speeding, failing to stop for police and running a red light.
He handled stolen items such as a handbag, wallets, passports and number plates as well as using stolen bank cards to make purchases.
More than 40 charges were withdrawn, with an arson charge shifted for trial at a higher court.
The mounting charge list across a host of suburbs in Melbourne’s South East and East had not been finalised until recently.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen noted the sheer volume of offending and locations had at least partly contributed to the delay.
“He certainly knows he caused a lot of trouble in a few months,” a defence lawyer told the court on 20 August.
“He is willing to do the time he deserves.”
At age 8, McCarthy had endured deep family tragedy without grief counselling or treatment. Afterwards, he was raised by his grandparents.
McCarthy had graduated from cannabis use at 14 to being “controlled” by drugs such as ice and ‘juice’ (GHB) a decade later.
He moved out of home due to his drug-fuelled “lifestyle” stressing his grandparents, the court was told.
Over the past six months, he had been in remand custody.
During that stint, he’d undertaken Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous courses as well as vocational training, the court heard.
At one point, McCarthy seemed taken aback when shown a photo of his former drug-abused self soon after his arrest on 7 February.
“It’s shocking,” he told the court.
Magistrate Vandersteen told McCarthy: “I don’t think I’d recognise you now.”
Mr Vandersteen took into account McCarthy’s limited prior history, age, show of insight and the developmental impediment caused by his uncounselled childhood grief.
jailed McCarthy for six months, declaring his time had been served in remand.
McCarthy was however remanded for a committal mention for arson at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 28 August.
He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
