By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A HALLAM man accused of two burglaries and reoffending while on bail has been freed again partly to help care for his young disabled son.
Jeremy Leigh Osler had been remanded in custody since arrested by police in Doveton early on 22 March, a court bail hearing was told last Monday.
Osler’s ex-partner told Dandenong Magistrates’ Court she relied on the applicant – who himself suffers Crohn’s Disease – to help care for their cerebral-palsy afflicted son such as feeding, bathing and getting him ready for school.
“(Osler) has had hard times with his sickness but we help each other. I’m more than happy to get him (to doctor’s appointments) but I need his help more.
“When he was arrested he was just starting to get on the right (track) with his gambling and all that.”
First Constable Tara Firth of Endeavour Hills police told the court she opposed Osler’s bail because of the risk of committing further indictable offences, his drug abuse and “complete disregard for the law”.
She said that on 22 March, Osler had been intercepted in a car by police and produced a drivers’ licence with the name ‘Nathan Osler’ and a photograph of someone “larger than the accused”.
“He (initially) said he’d lost a bit of weight,” First Const Firth said.
She described Osler as nervous and seemingly “drug affected”, telling police that a crack-pipe found in the back seat belonged to someone else.
He allegedly admitted driving while disqualified but made “no comment” about three number plates lying in the front-passenger footwell, the court was told.
From the car, police seized credit card statements, a crowbar, socket and ratchet sets as well as several power-tools including cordless drills that didn’t match his professed occupation as a plasterer, First Const Firth said.
Osler, who was on a corrections order after being released from jail last year, was placed on bail in January over two alleged burglaries and a petrol drive off.
The court was told Osler had been previously convicted of four counts of refusing to appear on bail.
Osler’s lawyer said her client had told a Credit bail assessor he was using ice to self-medicate his “other health issues”.
The lawyer said police had failed to prove he had stolen some of the seized items – which Osler asserted were owned by him, family members and his ex-partner.
He had also been driving his sister’s car in Doveton on 22 March, and so was unaware of some of the seized contents, the lawyer said.
In granting bail, magistrate Greg Connellan weighed up the “severe level” of cerebral palsy suffered by Osler’s son with Osler’s risk of re-offending.
The risk factors included Osler’s repetitive criminal history, substance abuse, alleged gambling problems and financial difficulties.
Mr Connellan placed Osler on a night curfew and a Credit bail support program, ordering Osler not to attend a gambling venue, use drugs of dependence without a prescription nor drive a motor vehicle.
Osler next appears in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 7 May.
