By Cam Lucadou-Wells
An unlicensed drug-driver in a stolen car who ploughed into a parked vehicle on Chandler Road, Noble Park has been jailed.
Dario Skorjanec, 37, and his partner appeared to be behaving erratically at the crash scene about 9.50am on 23 February, police told Dandenong Magistrates’ Court.
Both vehicles were extensively damaged, the court heard.
Skorjanec had been driving a car stolen from Brighton on 4 February. It was fixed with two different stolen plates.
Skorjanec and his partner were also accused of buying more than $240 of items from Coles, Liquorland and 7-11 using a credit card stolen from the partner’s mother.
The couple also charged over Skorjanec’s break-in at a Springvale building site in late October 2017.
As his partner waited outside the site, she told witnesses that Skorjanec was inside stealing copper.
Skorjanec emerged with a cordless drill and a back-pack of tools and a knife. He was arrested by police after a short foot-chase.
He also pleaded guilty to stealing a garden blower and trimmer with attachments during a home burglary on Chandler Road, Noble Park last year.
The items were tracked down to a Cash Converters store by their owner.
A defence lawyer told the court on 19 November that Skorjanec suffered an unstable childhood, including homelessness and moving from Croatia to Australia.
He had successfully got off drugs at 19 but had recently relapsed due to traumatic family events.
Magistrate Pauline Spencer jailed Skoranec for three months followed by a variation of his current corrections order.
He was disqualified from driving for four years – due to a prior conviction for refusing a drug-driving test.
“I’m particularly concerned with you driving under the influence – that could end up with someone being killed,” Ms Spencer said.
The CCO would include judicial monitoring – the first court appointment coinciding with his birthday.
“Let’s come to court on your birthday so you’re not celebrating too hard,” Ms Spencer said.
“To be frank with you, I can see you have got one foot in recovery and one foot still in your old life.
“While you’re still in that headspace … you’re still going to keep struggling.”
