Former jockey and lawyer, Danny Nikolic, along with his associate Patrick Lennon, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court facing upgraded theft and burglary charges linked to a botched break-in incident that occurred on January 9 at a residence in Carlton. Authorities assert that the duo attempted forced entry into the property around 2 am, but their actions were witnessed by a bystander who promptly alerted police.
The pair was apprehended shortly following the incident and initially charged with burglary and theft. However, the value of the stolen items, reportedly jewellery, has been reassessed, leading prosecutors to request a modification of the charges to reflect a total worth of $177,000—potentially escalating the case to the County Court.
During a brief court session, neither Nikolic nor Lennon had legal representation initially, although Nikolic later informed the magistrate that Thea Milides would represent him. Lennon continued to represent himself. Magistrate Belinda Wallington inquired about an outstanding assault charge against Nikolic from 2021, of which he claimed he was unaware of any ongoing issues, stating that he had previously been informed the matter had been resolved and the charges dropped.
The magistrate provided Nikolic with documentation pertaining to the charges to pass to his lawyer and extended his bail until May 13 concerning the assault allegation. Both men had their bail regarding the theft and burglary charges prolonged until their next court appearance on June 17 for a committal mention.
Nikolic, noted for his illustrious career winning 32 Group One races, including the prestigious Caulfield Cup in 2003, had previously lost his jockey licence in 2017 due to a ban from Victorian racetracks and was also unsuccessful in securing a riding licence for provincial meetings in Queensland.