By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A MAN has told a court he “stuffed up” after being arrested with suspected stolen items in the back of a car in Doveton while on a month-old community corrections order.
Nicholas Dadov, 22, and a co-accused were arrested next to a Mazda utility laden with alloy and racing tyre rims, laptops, gas bottles, bags of clothing and DVDs, a pull saw and a knife under the passenger seat about 4pm on 25 September.
Some of the items were allegedly stolen from an Officer address between 23-24 September, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court was told.
Dadov had allegedly knocked on a front door to hawk off the items in Chestnut Grove, Doveton, with the ute and items parked outside.
Dadov pleaded guilty to charges including possessing suspected stolen goods in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court the following day, as well as to breaching a community corrections order handed down by the court on 8 August.
His lawyer told the court in the day’s first hearing that “my instructions are (he thought) it was abandoned property”.
The lawyer submitted for Dadov to be released on bail for sentencing with a second alleged breach and alleged theft of motor vehicle set down for 6 October.
Dadov is also facing Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 10 October for disqualified driving, and a separate hearing on 19 October for theft of a motor vehicle.
Magistrate Gerard Bryant, in the second hearing on 26 September, said he would not allow the bail application “dressed up” as a guilty plea “in a million Sundays”.
“In the circumstances that (Dadov) has instructed for pleas of guilty in breach of a community corrections order I put him on, he’s going nowhere,” Mr Bryant said.
“I told him there would be significant ramifications if he breached the community corrections order.
“I don’t think you’ve got a snowflake’s chance in hell with that.”
Dadov told the magistrate: “I stuffed up. I don’t know what to say.
“I’m off the drugs. I’m doing everything I can.”
Mr Bryant replied: “Why then are you charged with theft of a motor vehicle, proceeds of crime and weapon offences?”
Dadov said he’d “do anything to get out and be home with my family”.
“That’s not going to happen today,” Mr Bryant said.
“Of course not,” Dadov said.
The accused asked Mr Bryant if he could have a suspended sentence, but was told that was no longer a sentencing option.
The court was told Dadov had attended three of his corrections-order appointments but missed a drug counselling session due to a broken leg.
Dadov needed hospital treatment due to taking his plaster cast off, his lawyer said.
Mr Bryant said Dadov was “looking down the barrel of a jail sentence” but may be eligible for a Dandenong Drug Court order.
However Dadov insisted to the court “I’m not on drugs no more”.
Dadov is set to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 6 October.
