A Victorian man accused of stealing a car with a sleeping baby inside and leaving the child in a cardboard box has appeared in court. Ricky Atkinson, 32, faced Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Monday, three days after his arrest in central Shepparton.
Police allege Atkinson stole a red Volkswagen from the carpark of Farm Fresh Supermarket on November 14 with a 15-month-old boy inside. He is accused of leaving the child in a box in the carpark after realizing the baby was in the vehicle. The mother returned to find the car missing and her son unharmed.
The vehicle was allegedly located the following day in Mooroopna, about 5km west of Shepparton. During the hearing, Atkinson’s lawyer requested a “straight remand” and indicated a possible bail application. The lawyer noted Atkinson suffered a back injury during his arrest and asked for him to be seen by a custody nurse.
Atkinson faces charges including car theft, placing a child in danger of serious injury, and committing an indictable offence while on bail. He also faces unrelated charges of theft, dangerous driving, and aggravated reckless exposure of two police officers to risk. Magistrate David Faram adjourned the case, and Atkinson will return to court on December 15.
