‘He’s going to kill someone unless he seriously changes’: magistrate

Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Anna Hanlon said Weston stole a taxi driver’s wallet containing $900 cash while he was meant to be in court on September 20, 2024.

Weston and another male and female got into a taxi in Poplar Ave, Shepparton, and requested stops at several locations.

However, the driver stopped and asked for payment because he thought they weren’t going to pay.

The other male punched the driver in the back of the neck and head three times before Weston stole his shoulder wallet.

In documents submitted to the court, police said Weston used screwdrivers to break into a 90-year-old man’s Mooroopna house at about 5.50am on September 21, 2023.

Weston stole the victim’s iPhone 7 from his bedside table and a wallet from a desk drawer.

The victim discovered about $32,000 had been transferred out of his bank account into four different accounts.

Despite his bank cancelling some of the transactions, he lost $14,100.

Weston and his co-accused withdrew $4999 from a bank and bought $2579 of items later that day.

Weston also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving while being pursued by police, driving at a dangerous speed, failing to stop on police instruction, vehicle theft and driving while disqualified.

In document submitted to the court, police said Weston stole a Mazda CX5 from Goulburn Valley Health on April 11, 2024.

He drove it at a fast speed in a 60km/h zone without headlights on, and didn’t stop when police tried to pull him over on Benalla Rd, Shepparton.

Weston pleaded guilty to assault, robbery and theft after stealing an iPhone 13 Pro and Apple Watch on August 9, 2023.

The victim gave Weston his phone after he was told to “give me your phone or I will kill you”.

Weston took the victim’s hand and removed his Apple Watch before the victim fled.

Weston also pleaded guilty to burglary, theft, attempted theft from a vehicle, handling stolen goods, possessing methamphetamines and two counts of committing an indictable offence while on bail.

He and a co-accused stole an E-bike and road bike from a Kialla property’s shed on February 25, 2024, where they also emptied a Nissan Qashqai’s centre console.

Police found a bag of methamphetamines in Weston’s pocket when they arrested him a few days later.

Weston pleaded guilty to vehicle theft, theft, driving unlicensed, using false number plates and using an unregistered vehicle.

Weston and his co-accused stole a Holden Commodore from a Benalla Rd business in Shepparton on August 26, 2024 and drove it to the Bunnings Warehouse car park where they removed its tyres and rims.

Weston also pleaded guilty to vehicle theft and possessing methamphetamines after he was one of three people found in a stolen Toyota HiLux in Kialla on October 24, 2024.

Police found several bags of methamphetamines in Weston’s wallet and seven guns in the HiLux; however, Weston wasn’t charged over possession of the guns.

Weston pleaded guilty to possessing a controlled weapon, possessing an axe, handling stolen goods, using false number plates and using an unregistered vehicle.

Police found a stolen debit card, hunting knife and axe in a Holden Commodore with false number plates Weston had been in on Sunbury Rd, Shepparton on July 2, 2024.

Weston also pleaded guilty to two counts of obtaining property by deception after using a stolen debit card to get $20 out of a coin dispenser in Kialla on September 16, 2023 and purchasing $32.70 of food from a service station on September 17, 2023.

Weston pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods, using false number plates and driving while disqualified after driving a Holden Commodore ute on Riverview Dve, Kialla on June 14, 2024.

He pleaded guilty to vehicle theft after stealing a Toyota RAV4 from a Nathalia property on April 4, 2023.

Weston also pleaded guilty to unlicensed driving, driving an unregistered vehicle and using a vehicle without number plates.

Weston pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamines on May 14, 2024, and to two counts of failing to answer bail on December 7, 2023 and January 12, 2024.

Weston’s defence counsel acknowledged the taxi driver his client stole from would’ve been “traumatised”, but noted he had no serious injuries.

He told the court Weston had substance abuse issues and had experienced homelessness throughout his childhood.

He said when Weston was released, he would move in with his uncle, who has a “prosocial influence”.

Magistrate Victoria Campbell said Weston’s life was at a crossroads.

“He’s going to kill someone or kill himself unless he seriously changes,” she said.

Weston will be sentenced in March.