Jesse Christopher Kirkwood, 30, of Duffy, was refused bail when he appeared in court on Monday. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
A court has heard the bizarre case of a fashion industry-hopeful accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of random items, including a ‘Louis Vuitton’ glass bong, before commenting “snitches get stitches” when trying to discover who reported his alleged crimes to police.
On Friday (13 August), ACT Policing said that two men allegedly broke into a home in Chapman and threatened the occupant before forcing him to transfer money and stealing items from the home.
Police said there was a second break-in at the same home two days later and more items were stolen.
On Sunday (15 August), police searched Jesse Christopher Kirkwood’s home in Duffy where they allegedly found items stolen from the Chapman residence and an underground hydroponic cannabis grow room hidden beneath a trap door.
Thirty-year-old Kirkwood, who calls himself “The Wolf of Pyrmont Street” on Instagram, was arrested and pleaded not guilty to charges of blackmail, burglary, theft, possessing a weapon and unlawfully confining a person when he appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday (16 August).
The court heard the stolen items were of a large and peculiar range, from shoes, gloves, passports, a Microsoft Surface Pro and headphones to Valium, the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 video game, CDs including American Idiot by Green Day and No Rest for the Sickest by Kerser, as well as a 40 cm ‘Louis Vuitton’ glass bong.
The total value of all the items was about $13,500. The court also heard the weapon Kirkwood allegedly had on him was a samurai sword.
Kirkwood applied to be released on bail, which prosecutor Ms Fieldus opposed.
Ms Fieldus told the court that when Kirkwood allegedly sought information about who had reported the matter to police, he commented, “snitches get stitches”.
She said he knows where the alleged victims live and allegedly tried to contact one of them.
Ms Fieldus said the alleged crimes were “somewhat inexplicable” but involved a degree of planning and police were investigating two other people they believe were involved.
She also claimed Kirkwood said he wanted to return to Sydney once the ACT’s coronavirus lockdown ended.
Kirkwood’s Legal Aid lawyer Ms West said her client was in the process of starting his own business in fashion and would agree to live with his parents under a curfew if he was released on bail.
Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker noted the alleged offending was “somewhat unusual”, and the prosecution appeared to have a strong case.
She said the proposed bail conditions were extreme, but there was still a capacity to interfere with witnesses even with compliance.
She refused bail and adjourned the case to 27 September.
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