A series of disturbing and serious cases came before the Illawarra's courts this week, ranging from alleged high-value cryptocurrency theft by a former football star to prolonged child sexual abuse and dangerous public behaviour.
Former NRL Star Seeks Time on Crypto Theft Allegations
Trent Merrin, the 36-year-old former St George Illawarra Dragons player, appeared in Port Kembla Local Court on Wednesday, December 3. He is charged with dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception, relating to the alleged theft of $140,000 worth of cryptocurrency. The court granted Merrin more time to review the case against him.
Disturbing Child Abuse Case Revealed in Wollongong
In a separate and deeply troubling case, an Illawarra man pleaded guilty to 17 charges related to the repeated sexual abuse of his teenage stepdaughter. Wollongong Court heard the abuse began when the girl was 15 and that the man not only filmed the acts but also meticulously catalogued his crimes in a spreadsheet. The court was told the offender started a relationship with the victim's mother when the girl was a toddler.
A Week of Reckless Acts and Theft
The week's proceedings also covered a range of other criminal matters. Jerry Mesiti, 51, of Warilla, was sentenced for breaking into a Shellharbour Airbnb, ransacking the property and stealing items including two iPads and a wedding band.
Jai Russell, 21, of Barrack Heights, pleaded guilty to robbery after snatching a woman's holiday savings from a Warilla home and fleeing on an electric scooter on July 19.
In a bizarre home invasion case, Daniel Potts, 27, of Bellambi avoided jail after the victim of a "terrifying" armed invasion realised the masked assailant was someone he knew. The magistrate warned Potts to "be careful who your friends are".
"Childish" and "Idiotic" Behaviour Before the Bench
The magistrates did not hold back in criticising what they saw as immature conduct. Julie Mook, 58, of Warrawong, was told to "act her age" by Magistrate David Williams after pleading guilty to assault for dragging a friend by the hair across a service station forecourt.
Noah Thistlewaite, 19, of Stanwell Park, was labelled "idiotic" and told he was lucky to be alive after police caught him drink-driving with a passenger clinging to the roof of his car in a dangerous "car surfing" stunt.
In another concerning incident, a man pleaded guilty to shooting a baby and his own toddler son in the head with a gel blaster while they were in his care in 2024, texting the baby's mother about the incident afterwards.
The cases highlighted a broad spectrum of criminal activity in the region, with matters set to continue through the local court system.
