From front page The council's Greater Dandenong Business group manager Paul Kearsley said the recent shop vacancies were "unfortunate but .. a constant factor in activity centres". "This is outside the control of Council and the current climate means it is a challenging time for retailers with more competition and online sales." He said the council was continually looking to improve amenity with artwork installations, such as murals at the nearby park linking Palm Plaza, as well as altering parking rates to help traders. Victoria Police were aware of issues involving drunken behaviour, Mr Kearsley said. "Our information is this is not young people but predominantly men aged 35 and over. "The police have been proactive in responding to these issues and addressing antisocial behaviour."
Ghajan Ghaneshan and Ashton Ashokkumar in front of the deserted parking bays on a midTuesday morning. 188336 Picture: CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
Guns, drugs in the house By Cam Lucadou-Wells Two Lyndhurst 'ice' addicts were found living in an 'Aladdin's cave' of drugs, firearms and a stolen Ford Mustang, the County Court of Victoria heard. Shannon Brown and Kevin Gray's home was raided by police in November 2016, with weapons seized from ceiling manholes above their bedrooms, as well as a 3D-printed gun and gun parts. It painted a "disturbing picture of drug use and criminal activity", Judge Patricia Riddell said during sentencing. "The potential for violence is demonstrated by the large amount of weapons found." She condemned the mix of prohibited weapons with the "drug milieu", particularly noting the loaded sawn-off shotgun found in the Mustang's glovebox. However, there was not enough evidence that the weapons were planned for criminal offences, Judge Riddell said. Gray, 30, guilty of the "lower-end" trafficking of 4.9 grams of ice found in his bedroom. His cache of weapons included a machete, a sawn-off 0.22 rifle, hunting knife, shot gun, crossbow, baton, home-made silencer, air rifle and fireworks. He was also charged over a 3D printer found in the garage with printed-off fire-arm parts. Brown, 28, had blown a $380,000 inheritance on his drug addiction. Like Gray, he turned to trafficking to support his habit, Judge Riddell noted. Brown was guilty of possessing an imitation handgun, a double-barrelled shotgun, a 3Dprinted firearm and a Winchester rifle - as well
as trafficking 201.7 grams of 1,4-butanediol. Also in his possession were a large variety of drugs in small quantities including ice, cocaine and diazepam. He also held a wide array of suspected stolen goods including phones, electronic tablets, jewellery, passports and watches - and the Mustang. Both accused men waited through a two-year court delay due to disputes over who was in possession of the seized items, Judge Riddell noted. Gray had been on bail for ice possession at the time of his arrest. A qualified mechanic, he'd been introduced to 'ice' by colleagues while working long hours as a repairman in mines around Australia. Before 2012, his history had been a "positive" one, Judge Riddell noted. After then, he'd become - in his own words a "full-blown addict", the court heard. Gray had spent the past two years in remand since his arrest. He'd shown some insight and "real remorse" and written a letterof-regret to the court. Brown was locked up for about nine months before winning bail. He since completed CISP bail and a corrections order without re-lapsing or re-offending. He had grabbed the chance to put "runs on the board", Judge Riddell said. Both accused men pleaded guilty at an early stage. Gray was jailed for 37 months, with a non-parole period of two years. His 654 days of pre-sentence detention was counted as 'time served'. Brown was jailed for 278 days - already served in remand. He was compelled to 300 hours of drug treatment and unpaid work on a three-year community corrections order.
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