Unemployed Victorian Greyhound Trainer Centre Of Lamington Assault
The Age newsreporter, Steve Butcher has uncovered a rare case of Lamington assault involving an “unemployed greyhound trainer” from Port Melbourne.
The report amongst other claims, cites Anthony Dickie's claims that “he could earn up to $200,000 racing greyhounds, but faced a stewards inquiry about being relicensed”.
According to Butcher, the stoush followed a rich recipe for trouble when unemployed greyhound trainer Anthony Dickie confronted two police officers outside a house in Port Melbourne with a mouthful of lamington and bad language.
Dickie, a convicted and self-confessed thief and burglar, had eaten a corner of the lamington before telling the officers to leave in words that were publicly indecent and unlawful.
According to a summary yesterday in Melbourne Magistrates Court, Dickie had chewed a corner from the “five-centimetre, cubed lamington” before he threw it at the van.
Senior Constable Jay Rattigan, prosecuting, said the lamington “exploded” over the two officers through the van's open passenger window.
Magistrate Bernie Fitzgerald had earlier queried one of the charges against Dickie that alleged he had caused wilful damage to the van.
Senior Constable Rattigan replied that it involved cleaning the “squashed” lamington from the van's seats, which had cost $20 at a local car wash, after the incident on May 16 last year.
“If I spray mud over a car does that cause damage?” Mr Fitzgerald asked. “It may dirty the car, but I don't think it's damage.” He said there had to be an element of damage in the charge.
Dickie, 30, who was unrepresented, said he had been subjected to harassment by police. He described the charges as trivial, but admitted he hit one officer on the head with the lamington. After a brief adjournment, Senior Constable Rattigan announced that after discussions with Dickie he would plead guilty to an assault charge, using indecent language and failing to appear on bail.
Dickie told Mr Fitzgerald, who struck out charges that included wilful damage, he could earn up to $200,000 racing greyhounds, but faced a stewards inquiry about being relicensed.
Mr Fitzgerald put Dickie on a good behaviour bond with an order he pay $300 to the court fund — and $20 compensation. He said police must be allowed to do their job and “not have put up with this behaviour”.