Get the latest news to your email inbox FREE!

REGISTER

Get the latest news to your email inbox FREE!

REGISTER
HomeIndyIce addict jailed for ‘king hit’ on boy, 15

Ice addict jailed for ‘king hit’ on boy, 15

A 20-YEAR-OLD ice addict with ADHD, a “borderline IQ” and “countless” prior convictions has been jailed for a king hit that left a 15-year-old with $15,000 worth of dental repairs.
Michael Strojan, formerly of Elliot Crt, Whittington, pleaded guilty to various offences including recklessly causing injury, burglary, assault with a weapon and dangerous driving.
Strojan sat hunched and chewing gum behind his lawyer, wearing tracksuit pants, a T-shirt and runners, next to his girlfriend with bright pink hair and ripped white jeans.
Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable David Vanderpol said Strojan punched the boy without provocation near McDonald’s, in Ryrie St, Geelong, at 3.45pm on 20 August.
The boy and his friend were waiting at traffic lights when Strojan attacked.
“The co-accused yelled out ‘What are you guys staring at?’, to which they replied ‘Nothing’. The accused stared the victim in the face and punched him to the right side of his mouth,” Snr Const Vanderpol told the court.
The victim said in a statement: “As a result of being king hit for no apparent reason I am uncomfortable returning to Geelong for fear this may be repeated”.
Defence lawyer Caetlyn Wells-Simon said Strojan was “coming down off ice” when the boys walked past.
“Much of his offending is without thought or premeditation.”
On 22 September Strojan attended uninvited a birthday party in Belmont where he “waved a Stanley knife around party-goers” after a fight broke out, Snr Const Vanderpol told the court.
Ms Wells-Simon said Strojan also blamed his ice addiction for a Whittington burglary on 23 September, in which he stole $200 in gold coins, a mobile phone and a digital camera.
He stole a Westfield Geelong employee’s iPhone the following day.
Strojan fled police trying to intercept his vehicle about 5pm on 2 December, hitting speeds over 100km/h in a 50km/h zone on Western Beach Rd.
The vehicle was unregistered, fitted with a false South Australian number plate and Strojan had “never held a licence”, the court heard.
Magistrate Michael Coghlan said youth justice had “apparently not been successful” for Strojan previously.
Mr Coghlan sentenced Strojan to 15 months’ jail with eight months non-parole.

Digital Edition
Subscribe

Get an all ACCESS PASS to the News and your Digital Edition with an online subscription

Summer cranks up

Summer seems to have upped its game a notch and Independent photographer Ivan Kemp went to Ocean Grove main beach on Tuesday 20 January...
More News

Giant killers Leopold into T20 decider

Leopold became giant killers at Reynolds Oval, winning through to the Geelong Cricket Association top grade T20 grand final. One of only two GCA2 sides...

Land sale feedback wanted

Golden Plains Shire intends to sell council-owned land at 132 Milton Street, Bannockburn and wants community feedback. The vacant parcel of 3.5 hectares in the...

Community heroes nominated

Golden Plains Shire has announced nominations for its Community Awards 2026. The awards recognise and celebrate the exceptional contributions made by individuals and groups. Young community...

Top-order stability for Grove

Openers Shaun Fankhauser and Dan Roddis combined for their third major partnership in a row to catapult Ocean Grove to an eight-wicket derby win...

World star leads Drysdale to victory

Led by 2024 world No 1 Kelsey Cottrell, Drysdale is four points outside the Geelong Bowls Region Premier Pennant top four after upsetting Ocean...

500 games for Anglesea legend

Anglesea Cricket Club legend Mark Stoneham’s 499 games have always been played in the right spirit. Competitive, but scrupulously fair, the 62-year-old is still making...

A cry for truth

A Geelong rally and march will share First Nations history along with the reasons behind calls to change the date of Australia Day. ...

Round 10 cricket scoreboards

All the scores, run makers and wicket takers from round 10 of Geelong Cricket Association and Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association played on Saturday 17...

Hands-on learning for Whittington kids

Whittington Primary School students recently had the opportunity to explore healthy living, food value and sustainable choices at Geelong Botanic Gardens. The gardens team partnered...

Lara times run chase to perfection

Lara closed in on a GCA1 top four spot with a superbly timed run chase against St Peters in round 10 on Saturday 17...