Dustin Martin’s $150,000 car was used by a Collingwood supporter drug addict to ram a police cruiser in a savage crime frenzy through Melbourne.
Collingwood fanatic Yusuf Amir, 30, from Springvale, southeast Melbourne, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to stealing Martin’s black Range Rover from a St Kilda petrol station on January 23.
The Rat-Tailed Magpies fan appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court via video link from Port Phillip Jail where he has been jailed for six months.
Collingwood fan Yusuf Amir, 30, of Springvale stole Dustin Martin’s car and rammed a police cruiser into it
Dustin Martin’s car was used in a crime spree in Melbourne in January. He is pictured during last weekend’s game against the Hawks
The court heard Amir, whose social media account is littered with Collingwood logos, took off in medalist Brownlow’s car after his companion failed to remove the keys when he entered the gas station.
The meth addict, who had 38 pages of previous convictions, had just been released from prison for similar drug offenses when he stumbled across Martin’s car at the Coles Express on Barkly Street.
Amir had already been wanted for another car theft earlier this month, to which he also pleaded guilty on Tuesday.
The court heard that Martin’s friend left his car running when he came to pay the attendant.
Amir had been dropped off by buddies driving a Holden Caprice.
Police caught up with Amir hours later after two detectives came across Martin’s vehicle parked just down the road from the Crest on Barkly hotel.
As they pulled into the parking lot, the court heard Amir jump into Martin’s car and attempt to take a break.
A prosecutor told the court that Amir drove the Range Rover into a brick wall before crashing into the unmarked police cruiser at high speed.
“The Land Rover accelerated sharply forward colliding with the front of the police vehicle, at the same time the driver also collided with the rear driver’s side of the Holden Caprice,” the prosecutor said.
“The Land Rover struck the vehicles with such force that the rear of the Caprice was thrown sideways approximately one metre. The police vehicle suffered damage to the front end making it undriveable.
Go Pies: Collingwood fanatic Yusuf Amir, 30, stole Dustin Martin’s car
The court heard the brave detectives jump out of their wrecked car and successfully spray Amir in the face with capsicum spray, but he still refused to surrender.
During a desperate struggle, Amir attempted to reverse Martin’s car while one of his associates was on the ground directly behind the wheels of the vehicle.
A policeman managed to get her to safety, which allowed Amir to escape through the passenger side door.
He was intercepted shortly thereafter.
The court heard police initially charged Amir with endangering police, but the charges were dropped as part of a plea deal with prosecutors.
Instead, he pleaded guilty to multiple offenses of motor vehicle theft, drug possession, dangerous driving and offenses committed while out on bail.
Amir will plead guilty to even more charges when he returns to court next month to be sentenced.
Those charges include theft of gasoline and car, reckless driving, driving under suspension, drug possession and other violations of his bail conditions.
Amir’s attorney, David McKenna, suggested his client was unaware that the officers he rammed into Martin’s car were actually officers.
“The police car arrives with no lights or sirens on, it’s an unmarked police car and the officers are not uniformed officers,” he said.
Martin’s car was stolen from a petrol station in St Kilda after his companion left the keys in the ignition
Norm Smith’s three-time medalist celebrates his epic win over the Hawks last weekend
Martin was nowhere in court or by video link on Tuesday and did not provide a victim impact statement.
It is understood Martin informed Richmond of the incident at the time and has kept the club informed throughout.
The superstar midfielder enjoyed a stunning game against the Hawks on Saturday night, collecting 24 touches, seven marks and two goals.
The Tigers pulled off a remarkable victory to keep their season alive, battling from a 36-point deficit in the shadow of three-quarter time to break Hawthorn’s heart with a one-point victory.