An Indian illegal immigrant drug addict has been released into the community after being sentenced to just 10 months in jail for an armed robbery and police pursuit through Melbourne.
Ramandeep Singh, 35, who has been living in Australia illegally since his visa expired in 2019, walked free from Victoria’s County Court on Friday since he had already served 335 days on remand since his arrest in March last year, the Herald Sun reported.
Singh was taken into custody after using a hammer to rob a woman of her handbag in Hoppers Crossing before leading police on a 30-minute chase in a stolen Mitsubishi Lancer.
After driving on the wrong side of the road with flat tyres in a high-speed pursuit through residential areas Singh was eventually boxed in and arrested in Tarneit.
On Monday he pleaded guilty to armed robbery, dangerous driving, and driving without a licence, claiming he robbed his female victim because he needed money and failed to stop for police because he was scared.
Judge Carolene Gwynn took Singh’s addiction to cannabis and methylamphetamine into account in sentencing, noting that it led to the breakdown of his marriage.
“The primary context of your offending was your drug addiction and if you deal with it, there’s no reason why you can’t be a law-abiding citizen,” she said.
Judge Gywnne also found that the robbery, while serious, was spontaneous and opportunistic, and said that Singh’s driving offences showed a lack of regard for public safety.
“Your driving placed yourself, police members and others at risk. It happened in the early hours and it was only through good fortune and good management that no one was injured,” she said.
It is unclear whether Singh will be deported.
Header image: County Court of Victoria
