Accused Leongatha carjacker allegedly threatened to kill woman unless she drove him away from flaming vehicles
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A court has heard a 21-year-old man charged over a carjacking at Leongatha, south-east of Melbourne, was released from prison last month and is withdrawing from the drug ice.
Jesse Proctor, of no fixed address, was released from prison on March 2 and is accused of crashing a stolen car into parked cars in the main street of Leongatha about 10.30am on Monday.
Proctor's lawyer, from Kurnai Legal, told the Latrobe Valley Magistrate's Court the accused was withdrawing from the drug ice.
All three cars burst into flames.
Police told the court Proctor then flagged down a woman and jumped in her car, allegedly threatening to kill her unless she drove away.
She took the car keys and jumped out of the car.
The court was told Proctor then ran to nearby Young Street and flagged down a second woman, who had two children, aged four and one, in the back seat.
Police claim he forced himself through a side window and threatened to stab the woman unless she began driving.
She drove for a short distance, reportedly pleading with Proctor to let them go, but then stopped the car and threw the keys out onto the ground.
Police allege Proctor then punched the woman multiple times in the head before sexually assaulting her while searching for the keys.
She was able to get herself and the children free from the car before Proctor drove off.
She suffered a black eye, bruising and scratches, and police told the court the children were left traumatised.
Car may have reached speeds of 180kph
A Victoria Police helicopter was used to follow Proctor as he weaved in and out of traffic along the South Gippsland Highway towards the small rural hamlet of Hedley.
Police estimate he reached speeds of up to 180 kilometres per hour, and they used stop sticks to puncture the tyres of the car.
Proctor was eventually arrested at a house in Hedley, two-and-a-half hours after the fiery crash in Leongatha.
Police allege Proctor had been seen driving a stolen car through Warragul earlier that morning, and when police began a pursuit under lights and sirens, Proctor accelerated to speeds of 110kph in a 60kph zone.
The chase was called off due to Proctor's alleged dangerous driving.
String of car and fuel thefts alleged
The court was told Proctor, whose licence is disqualified, allegedly stole nine cars in about three weeks after his release from prison.
Police claim cars were taken from properties at Ellinbank, Warragul, Glengarry, Newborough and Traralgon.
One of the cars was a BMW, stolen from a house in Traralgon on March 17 while the owners slept.
In documents tendered to the court, police said Proctor also stole a handbag from the kitchen bench containing the BMW car keys and the garage roller door remote control.
He is also accused of stealing a car from the Narkoojee Winery at Glengarry North on April 3, after approaching the owner to ask for directions.
Proctor is also charged with stealing number plates from cars parked at Drouin train station and West Gippsland hospital, and a series of fuel thefts at petrol stations at Longwarry, Warragul, Moe, Morwell and Tyers.
Police told the court Proctor burst into tears on arrest but showed no remorse during a later police interview.
He did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to return to court in July.
Topics: courts-and-trials, crime, leongatha-3953
