Taco van thief fined
THE man responsible for stealing a Torquay taco van so his pet ram Jackie Chan could sleep in it, has been fined $900 after having a community corrections order cancelled.
Godwin Aquilina, of no fixed address, was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order with 120 hours of community service in early March after stealing a taco truck that left its owner devastated and out of business.
The 51-year-old appeared in Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday to apply to have the order cancelled due to health reasons.
A defence lawyer for Aquilina provided medical documents to show he was unfit for work due to an acquired brain injury.
Magistrate Steven Raleigh said despite the serious health issues he didn’t think it was appropriate to cancel the order entirely.
“I will cancel the order and re-sentence ... you are convicted and fined $900,” he said.
The court had previously heard Aquilina hooked the taco van to his car, stealing it and gutting it to the point it was unrecognisable.
At his March sentencing,
“I’m outraged, I can’t believe I did something like that.” GODWIN AQUILINA
Magistrate Frank Jones told Aquilina if it wasn’t for his brain injury he would have jailed him.
“You actually ruined this man’s life – he built this caravan and you put him out of business forever,” he said.
“You’ve got a lot of publicity about you and your ram but people ... will not like this.”
Aquilina received media coverage around the state after he was ordered to remove nine-year-old ram Jackie Chan from his Bacchus Marsh property after reports it had attacked people.
He then left the home and has been sleeping rough in Melbourne in a protest to keep the ram.
“I had quite a lot of problems getting my medication – I couldn’t get it when I got back to Melbourne,” he told the court.
“By the time I came to my senses and realised what had happened I was in panic stations and I didn’t quite know what to do, to be honest, your honour.
“I’m disgusted in myself that I’ve done it. I’m outraged, I can’t believe I did something like that.”
Aquilina was ordered to pay $25 per week until the fine was paid off.