By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A DISQUALIFIED Berwick driver, who allegedly claimed to police that he lived in Port Arthur Road, Port Arthur, has been granted CREDIT bail.
Craig Randolph Thiedeman, 38, who had been disqualified from driving since July 2014, was also on bail at the time.
Police informant First Constable Rebecca Gauci of Melbourne Bike Patrol Unit said Thiedeman gave false details after being pulled over for using his mobile phone while driving on La Trobe Street, Melbourne, on 29 August.
First he allegedly told police he was a former Tasmanian who had been staying in Brunswick for a few days and that he was from Port Arthur, Const Gauci said.
He later told police that he had been staying in Keysborough and Noble Park – which was in breach of his bail conditions to stay at a specific Berwick address – and then that he was living in his car.
His white Laser hatchback also allegedly had false number plates, which Thiedeman told police were likely to have been stolen from a vehicle parked near Dandenong railway station by someone he knew as Shane.
He told police he’d never had the Laser registered or given a roadworthy test.
At the time Thiedeman was bailed on charges of handling stolen goods, possessing ice, ecstasy and a drug of dependence (Viagra), driving an unregistered vehicle and giving a false name and address.
He had been arrested in July for failing to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 23 June.
Thiedeman, who had a “significant criminal history”, had given false details to unsuccessfully evade apprehension on “many occasions”, she said.
Thiedeman’s lawyer said the applicant’s drug relapse related to the collapse of his marriage.
“He’s someone who operates at a very high level except when he gets into these relapse conditions.”
Magistrate Pauline Spencer said she granted Thiedeman a treatment-based bail order because he hadn’t been on a structured court order for his drug problems before.
He had also found shelter with a close family member, rather than having to live in his car, Ms Spencer noted.
“You need to be clear that any driving and you will be in custody.”
