Fabian Calyan to serve 15 months behind bars over security guard assault and string of stealing offences

A 36-year-old man has been sentenced to an immediate term of imprisonment after brutally assaulting a security guard and going on a stealing spree across Perth’s southern suburbs. Fabian Michael Lenard Calyan appeared before Rockingham Magistrates Court last Friday, pleading guilty to one count of assaulting a public officer, one count of possessing a prohibited drug (cannabis), one count of being armed with a dangerous/offensive weapon/instrument in public, and thirteen counts of stealing. Prosecutor Sgt Matt Barker told the court on October 28, about 2pm, Calyan and two co-accused entered the Jaycar Electronics store in Rockingham. He said the group selected various items from around the store to the value of $890 and then left, making no attempts to pay. The next day, about 4.40pm, Calyan and the two co-accused were at Rockingham Shopping Centre when they entered the Rebel Sport store. Inside, Sgt Barker said Calyan selected various clothing items which he concealed under his arm and in a black Nike backpack. The store manager contacted security, but Calyan ran out of the store with the items. While running from Rebel Sport towards the shopping centre exit onto Council Avenue, centre security staff caught up with Calyan as he slowed down to collect some items that were falling on to the floor. The security guard tried to detain Calyan and the co-accused when Calyan punched the victim, causing a cut and swelling to his left eye. Calyan and the victim then began to wrestle, with the victim sustaining further abrasions to his head, elbows and hands. The victim told Calyan to “stop resisting” and “stop fighting”. He was detained by other security members and was placed under arrest by police a short time later. Police conducted a search of the backpack and found a small open-bladed knife and cannabis. On October 30, Calyan and a co-accused entered the First Choice Liquor store in Baldivis. The pair selected various items from the store to the value of $425, making no attempts to pay for the items, Sgt Barker said. Duty counsel Stacey Byrne said Calyan “accepts full responsibility in relation to the incident”. “He does admit that he had taken items from the the Rebel Sport store, but tells me that it was only one or two items,” Ms Byrne said. “He says that security was on his chest and he panicked, and that’s why he’s reacted in the way that he did.” Ms Byrne said if released from custody, Calyan would attend rehabilitation service Palmerston and he intended to address his methamphetamine use. Magistrate Steven Malley said this was a “tidal wave of offending”. Mr Malley said the offending was “basically planned” and “particularly liquor stores are being targeted . . . because they know that no one is going to stop them from walking out”. “I have to send a message to the community that the behvaiour has to be deterred in the strongest possible means,” Mr Malley said. “Nothing in your record gives me any hope . . . in my view a potential jail term is appropriate.” Calyan was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, backdated to November 30.