A man who filmed himself being chased by police during his crime spree across the Goulburn Valley has been sentenced.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Jesse Wells, 20, of Tallygaroopna, has been sentenced in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to 180 days in prison, to be followed by a community corrections order on more than 50 charges for incidents that occurred over 11 months.
Some of the charges he pleaded guilty to included reckless conduct endangering serious injury, driving dangerously while being pursued by police, two counts of burglary, damaging property, attempted burglary, four counts of theft and unlicensed driving.
Wells committed these offences in Shepparton, Mooroopna, Kialla, Numurkah, Cobram, Yarrawonga and Lemnos on July 22 and 23, 2024.
He stole a Mazda ute from Lemnos on July 22 or 23, and a Toyota HiLux tray ute and air compressor from Yarrawonga on July 23.
On July 23, he did $6000 of property damage to the shopfront window of Artavilla Emporium in Cobram, while trying to break in at about 2.40am.
At about 5.17am, Wells and two co-accused smashed the shopfront windows and doors at Sportfirst, Numurkah, doing $8000 of property damage and stealing $3800.99 of sportswear and clothing.
Later, he almost had a head-on collision driving the Mazda in Mooroopna.
Wells then drove on the wrong side of the road and went through red traffic lights in Mooroopna before driving to Shepparton.
He drove into oncoming traffic in Kialla, turning from Kialla Lakes Dve on to Archer Rd at about 11am.
He didn’t stop after police flashed their lights, and recorded a video of himself driving at 120km/h with police behind him.
Wells pleaded guilty to arson, two counts of vehicle theft and driving while disqualified after he was a passenger in a Toyota HiLux — which had been stolen from Sydney — in Shepparton on February 3 and 4, 2024.
He also stole a Mitsubishi Triton from Orrvale at 3.35am on February 4, before driving it to Mooroopna where he lit it on fire after rolling it.
Wells pleaded guilty to burglary, theft and destroying property, after he and two co-accused stole $50,000 of jewellery from Roberts Jewellers, Cobram, on November 29, 2024.
He caused $10,000 of property damage smashing the front door, counters and display cabinets with a sledgehammer.
Wells pleaded guilty to burglary, theft and damaging property after he and a co-accused smashed the front door and cabinet of Numurkah Discounts, stealing about $30,000 of cigarettes and tobacco pouches and $2120 cash on June 19, 2024.
He pleaded guilty to burglary and possessing methamphetamines after he and a co-accused smashed a display case at Roly’s Mobiles in Shepparton on August 21, 2024, and stole three phones valued at $1051.37 and a $423.02 watch.
Police found a 1.42g bag of methamphetamines at a Shepparton property when they arrested him.
Wells pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm while being a prohibited person in Shepparton on August 28, 2024.
Wells also pleaded guilty to assault, burglary and theft after he and two co-accused stole a safe containing commemorative coins from Wangaratta on November 11, 2024.
Wells and two co-accused also stole items including jewellery, watches, an iPad, a CCTV drive, international currency and handbags, valued at $5000.
Before fleeing, one of them threw a metal coin box at the homeowner’s son’s head.
Wells pleaded guilty to possessing a controlled weapon, assault and two counts of damaging property after grabbing a woman and spitting in her face on a West Wodonga street on June 7, 2024.
He then climbed on to and stomped on the front and back windows and roof of a Mitsubishi Lancer, before kicking a house’s front door hard enough for the door frame to break away while holding a large machete.
Wells also pleaded guilty to seven counts of burglary and five counts of theft after breaking into laundromats in Shepparton, Benalla, Mansfield, Wodonga and Bandiana from October 26 to November 28, 2024.
Wells stole $10,000 cash, an iPhone, a banjo and two socket sets valued at $3889 from a laundromat in Bandiana, near Wodonga, on November 24.
He stole $2000 of coins from Benalla Laundromat on October 26, $1500 of coins from Mansfield Laundromat on November 4 and $1000 of coins from a Wodonga laundromat on November 28.
After stealing from the Wodonga laundromat, Wells stole a laptop, tool bag and various tools valued at $1000 from a restaurant next door.
Wells pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon and possessing cannabis after police found a large double-edged sword and a small amount of cannabis in a search in Wodonga on December 4, 2024.
He pleaded guilty to theft and driving while disqualified after driving into a Shepparton car park and stealing a number plate from a Hyundai i30 on February 25, 2024.
Wells was sentenced to 180 days in prison, with the 149 days he spent in pre-sentence detention counting as time already served.
When he’s released later in May, Wells will start an 18-month community corrections order.
As part of the order, Wells must undergo treatment, follow a justice plan and attend drug abuse and offender programs.
He was also fined $100 and disqualified from driving for 18 months.
Magistrate Simon Zebrowski said Wells’ young age, Aboriginality, mild intellectual disability and plea of guilty significantly impacted his sentence on the “very serious” charges.