It’s called the silly season for a reason. By the time Christmas and New Year’s rolls around, most Aussies are feeling stressed, overworked and keen to blow off some steam with colleagues, friends and family.
And while it is indeed a time to be jolly, one bad decision could bring the festive season to a crashing halt for otherwise law-abiding residents, a criminal defence lawyer has warned. Every December and January, Lauren Cassimatis told Yahoo News Australia she sees a spike in “clean-skin” revellers with no previous record landing themselves behind bars.
It’s not just criminals who can find themselves in hot water, but “nurses, tradies, young parents and professionals”, she explained.
“One bad night triggers a criminal record that follows them for years.”
Out-of-character Christmas crimes fuelled by booze, stress
Cassimatis, who has represented clients in Melbourne and Geelong for two decades, said the seasonal trend rears its ugly head due to “a combination of things”, including booze, stress, depression and financial pressures.
“Silly mistakes do happen, and it’s usually due to the fact that one, there is a lot of alcohol involved, and two, they’re in celebration mode, so it is a time to be silly and have fun, and therefore carefree, but sometimes carefree becomes careless,” she said.
“Either they just aren’t aware of the laws at the time, it hasn’t occurred to them, or they’ve got a bit of a disregard for laws because they’re feeling festive and invincible”.
On the other hand, the holidays can also be very stressful and a lonely time for many.
“A lot of people that are dealing with grief or separation in their relationships can feel isolated and alone, so that often creates a bit of depression and anxiety,” Cassimatis told Yahoo, adding that this can lead to Aussies self-medicating with substances.
Another factor is the staggering jump in expenses during the festive season, whether it’s preparing for Christmas lunch, buying presents or paying the bills while they’re off work.
If you’re planning on drinking over the holidays, don’t get behind the wheel, Cassimatis pleaded. Source: Getty
Respected cricket player arrested for burglary
One man in his early 20s previously found this out the hard way when a big night led to a pair of handcuffs being slapped on his wrists.
The local cricket team captain with “a great reputation” had been out drinking with friends when he realised he’d left his sports bag in the club rooms.
“He goes off to the club rooms inebriated and is struggling to get the door open, and figures there’s no harm in just trying to break in and get his bag,” Cassimatis said.
He was quickly arrested and charged with burglary with intent to steal.
“[It] can be quite a serious offence, but this is someone that’s otherwise got a very good record and is known in the local community as a good sportsman.”
Dad spends holidays in jail after fit of rage worries relatives
In another incident, a husband and father who ran his own business was so stressed about his finances that he kicked over his family’s Christmas tree in a fit of rage.
It alarmed his relatives so much that they called the police, worried about his mental health, Cassimatis explained.
“He ended up being charged with criminal damage and family violence-type offending because of his aggression in the household,” she said.
“The stress got the better of him, and he snapped. It was a build-up of things… but it escalated to him being remanded over Christmas, and the family being devastated that he was taken away into custody.
“So it can be something as simple as we snap, something that you do in the moment, and it turns into something serious [like] being jailed.”
Another client who was strapped for cash was caught stealing clothing from a store.
After security “singled him out”, he cyber-hacked the businesses’ website, and faced a maximum of 10 years in jail, the lawyer said.
Financial stress can lead otherwise law-abiding Aussies to do something reckless, Cassimatis said. Source: AAP
Parent comes unglued over Santa photos in ‘unusual’ incident
One of the most “unusual” cases Cassimatis has come across was a parent who came unglued after they missed out on booking a time slot for Santa photos.
They then somehow hacked into the mailing list for the waitlist, and “all these kids missed out on photos with Santa because all the bookings disappeared”.
The parent ended up copping a fine and community service.
Other offences she’s seen include sexual harassment allegations following a work party, and motorists caught driving carelessly because they’re in a rush.
One woman was even busted trying to put her makeup on while behind the wheel.
In recent years, Cassimatis says she’s seen a lot more drink-driving incidents involving electric scooters.
“A lot of people think they’re doing the right thing. They’re not going to drive home, they’d like to have a drink, so they jump on an e-scooter,” she said.
“But you actually can be breathalysed and you can still lose your licence if you have a blood alcohol concentration over the limit.”
Aussie revellers urged to think twice, take it easy
To avoid finding themselves in the same position, Cassimatis has urged Aussies to think twice before acting out this Christmas and New Year’s.
“If you’re going to drink at a party, don’t drive. Think about how much you consume, because often these Christmas offences are often fuelled by alcohol,” she said.
“Get some professional support if you are feeling under the pump, alone or sad, and just go easy on yourself.
“It’s a wonderful time of the year. It’s fun, yes, it’s a great time to be silly and celebrate, but just also know your limits.”
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
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