| Fallen AFL recruit Dayle Garlett jailed after pants incident outside WA court |
Ex-AFL player Dayle Garlett left his lawyer waiting outside court earlier this year while he stole jeans from a Target store in a misguided attempt to show respect for the magistrate.
On a day on which the former Hawthorn player might have been preparing with teammates for an AFL final against Adelaide, he was instead sentenced in Perth District Court to four-years-and-eight-months' jail for a variety of offences related to theft and drugs.
But Garlett's lawyer, George Guidice, said he retained hope for the talented footballer.
"He's respectful of the court," Mr Guidice said.
"He's not demanding and he's very likeable."
Garlett had been due to appear at court in Geraldton on February 19 this year but felt his old tracksuit pants weren't suited for the occasion.
"I was looking for him before court and it turns out he went to Target and tried on a pair of jeans and left without paying for them," Mr Guidice said.
Mr Guidice was then informed Garlett had been locked up.
When Garlett returned his lawyer asked him: "Why did you do it?"
"He said 'I didn't want to go into court with my tracksuit on, it shows no respect'," Mr Guidice said.
"He was serious."
Garlett's troubled personal life has effectively scuttled what once looked to be an immensely promising football career.
A highly touted junior out of Swan Districts, he was passed over in successive national drafts after photographs of him drinking and smoking appeared on social media.
He eventually managed to stay on the straight-and-narrow long enough for Hawthorn to take a chance on him with the 38th pick of the 2013 National Draft.
But Garlett was gone before the start of the season proper in 2014, having apparently developed a drug issue while in Melbourne - despite being lodged at one stage with Hawks skipper Luke Hodge.
He's since faced charges for stealing, burglary and reckless driving – linked to his drug use.
Garlett, 21, has spent most of this year behind bars but Mr Guidice said he had used
that time well.
"I just think he shouldn't be looked as an out-of-control criminal," Mr Guidice said.
"And he's been in custody since February this year, on remand, and he's missed out on a whole year of footy.
"But it's been a wake-up call for him.
"He says he's in a good place now and he wants to continue on this journey of getting well and building on the strength that he's regained in himself in the last seven months.
"He intends to build on that and get back into football."
Garlett will be eligible for parole in 2017, when he will be aged 23.
Dayle Garlett's step-father, Eddie Humphries reportedly told the court he had hope for his stepson's future.
"We know he can [get back in football], we know he has the potential to do it but it's up to him. First and foremost we want him to stop doing drugs and get himself sorted out first. If he plays footy again that's good," Mr Humphries said.
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