By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A MAN has been assessed for a community corrections order after ram-raiding a Fountain Gate store in a stolen car and driving dangerously during a police pursuit.
At Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Monday, Jerry Mataupu, a 20-year-old Pakenham father of two, pleaded guilty to all charges including causing about $30,338 damage to the Cash Converters store when he drove a car through its shopfront in the early hours of 5 February.
He had been driving two friends in the car, which had been stolen two days earlier from Hampton Park.
Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Adam Green told the court the group were expecting to find expensive jewellery in cabinets but settled for stealing watches of a total value of $215.
Soon after, Mataupu refused to stop the car despite an unmarked police car flashing its lights and sirens on Kilberry Boulevard, Hampton Park.
During a police pursuit through Hampton Park, Mataupu narrowly avoided crashing twice, got the car airborne over a roundabout and drove over kerbs “at a high rate of speed”, Ldg Sen Const Green said.
The court was told Mataupu showed “no remorse” after his arrest, laughing in parts of his formal police interview.
He also faced charges over breaching a family violence intervention order against an ex-partner in November in which he slammed down a garage roller door causing parts of the door railing to fall on the victim.
Defence lawyer Bill Grimshaw said Mataupu’s behaviour was “grossly inappropriate” but had “strong” prospects of rehabilitation and a full-time job as a roof tiler.
“Mr Mataupu presents as someone who is quite respectful and responsible … I’m submitting the behaviour was out of character.”
Mataupu told the court he was “just desperate for money” being unemployed at the time of the ram-raid.
He attributed his laughing at police to “adrenaline and nervousness”. He said he felt “pretty bad at the moment”.
“I should keep away from that group of friends.”
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said Mataupu faced an 18-month community corrections order with a “significant component” of unpaid community work, supervision and a compulsory road-trauma course.
He told Mataupu: “You need to appreciate the extreme seriousness (of what you’ve done).”
He decided against a more severe sentence because of the accused’s young age, his lack of prior offences and good family support.
“I agree his prospects of rehabilitation is very high.”
