Criminal fleeced his own family

“You have committed very, very significant offending. You took an amount almost equal to $50,000 from your family — you’ve damaged their reputation, their credit rating and standing in the community.”

A COLAC man will spend seven months in prison after fleecing his own family of more than $45,000, a court was told yesterday

James Felekos, 29, appeared before Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday for sentencing over 32 theft charges.

He is scheduled to face numerous other charges in court later this year.

Magistrate Peter Mellas told the 29-year-old he had no one to blame but himself.

“You have committed very, very significant offending,” the magistrate said.

“You took an amount almost equal to $50,000 from your family — you’ve damaged their reputation, their credit rating and standing in the community.”

The court heard Felekos had gone to family’s bank on several occasions and had withdrawn about $45,500 from their account.

It also heard Felekos had been given a community corrections order over separate matters late last year but had failed to attend since February.

Defence lawyer Michael Brugman said up until that point his client’s attendance had been good but he’d suffered mental health issues after shots were fired into his home in March.

“Shots were fired into the family home that have affected Mr Felekos,” he said.

“Both behaviour and mental health have declined.”

Mr Mellas said Felekos’s

MAGISTRAT E PETER MELLAS

lack of attendance showed he could not be trusted on a corrections order.

“You were saying to the court you had learnt your lesson . . . and you weren’t going to do this again,” he said.

Mr Mellas read a long list of convictions and pending charges Felekos faced, including driving offences, attempting to traffic drugs, theft, possession of weapons and trafficking a drug of dependence.

He told Felekos, “This indicates the extent to which you’re prepared to go your own way.”

Felekos faced court last August for allegedly assaulting two police officers after a 130km/h car chase. He allegedly punched one and set upon the other.

He also appeared for failing to comply with requirements of the Sex Offenders Register.

Felekos will be brought before the court for a contest mention on July 11 over unrelated matters.