NOTORIOUS career criminal Tim Barden heads Crime Stoppers’ top-five most wanted people in the south-west.
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Barden, 37, has a history of serious offending and failed to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court mid-January.
He originally hit the headlines 10 years ago after sparking a massive manhunt north of Warrnambool, involving the police air wing, police dogs and a squadron of officers.
His problems started when he badly bashed his then girlfriend's ex-boyfriend almost to death while on parole.
Prior to that he had led police on a wild chase through the Port Campbell district doing U-turns and driving at pursuing police officers in an effort to get him to abandon the chase.
At 1.35pm on November 20, 2007, a policeman recognised Barden's car and started a pursuit on the northern outskirts of Warrnambool, reaching speeds of 140km/h through Mailors Flat and Winslow.
Barden, with his three-year-old niece, evaded police on foot through rugged terrain, wading across a neck-deep creek while carrying the child and eluding police for five days until he was arrested hiding in the shower at a Warrnambool home.
His offending has only been broken by extended periods of imprisonment during the past decade.
In May last year Barden’s brother Robert, 35, was jailed for five years and four months.
He was one of a trio of thugs to receive length prison terms for holding a gun to the head of a Melbourne kindergarten teacher and stealing her car in a brazen daylight robbery.
The other people to make Warrnambool's top 5 include:
- Mathew Hume, 26, who failed to appear at the Echuca Magistrates Court in September last year on burglary and theft charges. He has nine warrants out for his arrest after breaching a community corrections order imposed for causing damage, burglary, drug driving, drive while suspended. Hume is also a suspect in relation to burglary and theft.
- Kasey Jarvis, 27, also failed to appear at the Warrnambool Magistrates Court in August 2014 for breaching a CCO and driving while suspended. Eight warrants have been issued for her arrest. The CCO was imposed for assault.
- Marcus Khann, 43, failed to appear at the Warrnambool Magistrates Court on January 31 this year for allegedly breaching his CCO imposed for assault, burglary and causing damage. Four warrants have been issued for his arrest.
- Gary Wickham, 56, failed to appear at the Warrnambool Magistrates Court in July 2016 charged with breaching an intervention order, stalking and making threats to kill. Six warrants have been issued for his arrest and he's allegedly breached a CCO.
Warrnambool police Acting Senior Sergeant Dean Greenwood said Tim Barden was well known to police.
He said there were more than 150 outstanding warrants in Warrnambool and district.
“These warrants do not go away. If you think you might be the subject of a warrant, go to your local police station to have the matter sorted out," he said.
“Behind the majority of these warrants is a victim of crime. We, as police, owe it to the victims to have these offenders presented at court.
“These people are wanted on multiple warrants and we are seeking to locate them after they have failed to appear at court for various offences.
“We suggest that if you recognise yourself, you hand yourself into police before we find you.”
If people wish to report information about these or other wanted offenders we advise to call Crime Stoppers confidentially on 1800 333 000 or make an online report at crimestoppersvic.com.au
“We are constantly monitoring social media and actively following up any leads we receive," Acting Senior Sergeant Greenwood said.