6.4.9. Winston

Winston is a 30 year old Indigenous man diagnosed as a child with a mild intellectual disability with a total IQ of 67 (verbal IQ of 67 and non-verbal IQ of 74). He attended a special school until the end of year 12. Winston has an extended family that features frequently in his police contacts. In Winston’s early encounters with police he was almost always in the company of his brothers who both have extensive criminal histories. Throughout his contact with police he was always recorded as living with his parents. He has a history of drug and alcohol misuse.

Winston has had 121 police contacts and 16 police custody episodes, the first when he was caught shoplifting, to which he freely admitted once confronted by police. Winston’s contact with police ranges from events relating to theft, with stealing motor vehicles one of the highest contributors. He is frequently picked up on trains for not having a ticket, and is often stopped and searched on the street due to police knowing him and his criminal history. Frequently when Winston is stopped and searched implements are found that are commonly used to break into cars. On numerous occasions police note that Winston changes his mind regarding his story about the implements and offers no reasonable excuse for having them in his possession.

Winston has frequently come into contact with police for causing trouble in public areas whilst intoxicated, with alcohol playing a substantial part in most of his police contacts. In one instance Winston’s mother called the police when she found a bag of marijuana in his room. Winston’s contact with police whilst intoxicated has frequently resulted in him abusing, threatening and assaulting police. Winston has also come to the attention of police as a victim of assault. In most of the instances where Winston has been the victim and the police have been called, within the next few days police note that Winston has retracted any statements he has made about the incidents.

Winston has a relatively stable family environment residing in one regional town, and in numerous instances his bail conditions stipulated that he resides with his parents. Subsequent police checks confirm his adherence to this. Despite the apparent influence of his older brothers, Winston’s offending never progressed to the level of serious offences and while being a juvenile justice client he was never in juvenile justice custody. Alcohol plays a substantial part in Winston’s ongoing contact with police