By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A DOVETON man has been re-bailed after being charged over a milk bar ram-raid this month.
Jeremy Smith, 18, was accused in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court of being inside a vehicle used to smash the front door of the Nunawading shop, about 5.30am on 3 March.
Smith and a co-offender have then allegedly stolen about $5000 worth of cash, cigarettes, chocolates and drinks.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Mark Thomson told the court on Tuesday 22 March that the property damage had yet to be assessed.
He told the bail hearing that police officers had recognised Smith on CCTV footage of the burglary.
When arrested, Smith was hiding in his home’s bathroom and wearing the same top and glasses as in the footage, Sgt Thomson said.
In making admissions, Smith told police that two older men had forced him into the robbery to clear his drug debt.
The men – who Smith refused to name – were in the car at the time, the accused claimed to police.
Smith’s lawyer said unusually Smith had no children’s court history but only in the past year had dropped out of school and work.
The accused had known his associates since his early teens but “fell” into his offending behaviour while having “nothing to do”, the lawyer told the court.
The “quite naive” Smith had a commitment to his education despite having to leave several schools because of severe bullying. He had dreams of being an inventor and a “degree of potential”, his lawyer said.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen rhetorically asked Smith why he thought his associates had used him during the robbery.
“So they’re not sitting here with you now.
“If you have the type of brain that can think of things that haven’t been thought of, use it (constructively).”
Mr Vandersteen noted Smith had already been on bail for serious charges laid by Box Hill Sexual Offences Criminal Investigation Taskforce.
He re-granted Smith bail due to the accused’s young age and lack of prior convictions.
“No-one wants to deal with someone like you in the system,” he said.
“You seem very lost.”
Smith was bailed to a Doveton address of a relative serving a community corrections order – what his lawyer described as the best available option.
In the meantime, Smith would be referred to a Koori intensive support program to focus on his rehabilitation.
