A BERWICK disqualified driver in his early twenties has been jailed over driving several stolen vehicles in two weeks in the midst of a long-term drug habit.
Nicholas Steckis, who had just been released from custody one day before the thefts, appeared at court via video link from Fulham Correctional Centre on 24 October.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of stealing motor vehicles in September as well as breaching a just-commenced community corrections order.
Police had pulled over Steckis in a stolen Mazda van containing ice and cannabis in Dandenong on 20 September.
The van had been stolen in an aggravated burglary two nights earlier, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court was told.
Steckis had also tried to evade police while riding a stolen Kawasaki motorbike at the Comfort Inn car park in Dandenong on 15 September.
A police officer grabbed Steckis’s arm as the accused rode past, bringing the rider to ground.
Steckis, who was arrested after a struggle, had stolen the bike while taking it for a test ride which he arranged with a Beaconsfield owner on 6 September.
He stole a Commodore advertised on Gumtree during a test drive in Clayton on 3 September.
During his escape, he reversed the vehicle into the owner’s knee.
Steckis was later identified by a distinctive tattoo on his hand, the court was told.
He also withdrew $600 from another person’s bank card without permission at a Berwick ATM in January.
Defence lawyer Bernard Keating said Steckis had a supportive family and good upbringing including an education at Hillcrest Christian College.
“The (community corrections) order hasn’t had a chance to work,” Mr Keating said.
Steckis’s family had seen “improvement” in the accused during his month in remand custody, the lawyer said.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said Steckis would be jailed for further time to make it clear he had to obey court orders.
“When interviewed (by police) in January, he thought it was all a joke,” Mr Vandersteen said.
“Well, the joke has run away with him.”
Mr Vandersteen said it was “not funny” to be affecting other people’s lives – including Steckis’s family – by stealing cars.
“Two years ago you certainly wouldn’t have thought you’d be speaking to a court from prison.”
Steckis was jailed for 60 days, including his 38 days in remand.
The term will be followed by a 12-month community corrections order, including judicial monitoring.
The order was varied to remove 150 hours of voluntary work to allow Steckis to focus on his drug rehabilitation, Mr Vandersteen said.
Steckis was ordered to submit to a DNA sample for police and was disqualified from driving for eight months.
