He was bailed to a residential rehabilitation facility to complete a three-month program on February 28, and was scheduled to be sentenced on March 21.
However, when he didn’t appear in court, Weston’s defence barrister Jonathan Rattray said his client had ended up in a “police pursuit in NSW” and was in custody.
His bail conditions required him to stay in Victoria, and follow directions from staff at the residential rehabilitation facility.
Mr Rattray said Weston had asked staff at the rehabilitation facility if he could visit his pregnant partner in Shepparton, which they allowed him to do because they thought there was a “therapeutic measure” in it.
Mr Rattray said he’d been in communication with the rehabilitation facility, who said they would take Weston back.
Magistrate Victoria Campbell said although there was “no reason he can’t return” to the rehabilitation facility, she would have to wait and see because it was the second time Weston had left after not completing the program before Christmas in 2023.
The last time Weston was in court for his unopposed bail application in February, Ms Campbell told him he needed to stay at the rehabilitation facility and complete the program.
Weston was meant to be sentenced for stealing a taxi driver’s wallet containing $900 cash while he was meant to be in court on September 20, 2024.
He was also meant to be sentenced for breaking into a 90-year-old Mooroopna man’s house and stealing his phone and a wallet on September 21, 2023.
The victim had discovered about $32,000 had been transferred out of his bank account, and despite his bank cancelling some of the transactions, he lost $14,100.
Ms Campbell issued a warrant for his arrest, and asked that Weston be brought back before her in court at the first available opportunity.
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