Car thefts led to trafficker
AN Armstrong Creek teenager was exposed as a drug dealer when police raided his home after a spate of car break-ins.
Jordan Bishop, 19, appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court on Thursday to plead guilty to drug trafficking, dealing with the proceeds of crime and multiple thefts from vehicles.
The court heard Bishop came to police attention in June last year after he and two other youths rifled through seven cars around Armstrong Creek.
Prosecutor Senior Constable Jeremy Allen said all the vehicles were unlocked, with thousands of dollars’ worth of items stolen, including a guitar, iPhone, sunglasses and cash.
A wallet containing a man’s bank card was also swiped, with Bishop and an accomplice using it a week later to splash hundreds of dollars at stores including McDonald’s and 7Eleven.
They were captured on CCTV using the stolen bank card, prompting detectives to raid Bishop’s Beard Street home on July 1 last year.
While searching Bishop’s bedroom, police found a range of stolen goods, along with drugs, cash, scales and deal bags. Constable Allen said the drugs included MDMA, amphetamines, magic mushrooms and cannabis.
Bishop was taken into custody and confessed to his drug dealing, telling police it was to support his own habit and buy food. The teenager was locked up for one night before being granted bail.
Constable Allen described Bishop’s offending as a “mini crime spree”, with the court told the budding chef had never previously been in trouble with the law.
Defence lawyer Caetlyn Wells-Simon said her client was embarrassed by his actions.
“The offending is blurry but he’s very ashamed every time he has to hear the (police) summary,” she said.
Ms Wells-Simon said Bishop had already taken steps towards his rehabilitation, which included signing up to a local
TAFE course. She asked the court to consider sentencing the teen to a good behaviour bond with a fine.
But magistrate Simon Guthrie said he believed the offending was too serious to impose a bond.
“It may not be the crime of the century but he’s trafficking for the benefit to fund his own addiction,” Mr Guthrie said.
Bishop will be assessed for a community correction order ahead of sentencing next Wednesday.