Glowing reference comes back to haunt McVicar

Garth McVicar of the Sensible Sentencing Trust. Photo / APN

A character reference for David Garrett has come back to haunt the chairman of the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

Mr Garrett used a character reference written by Garth McVicar in court when answering charges of faking a passport application by using a dead baby's identity.

Part of that character reference reads: "David may have made a mistake in his past life but we have no hesitation in endorsing and vouching for the David Garrett we know today."

However, yesterday, the trust condemned what Mr Garrett had done.

"David Garrett's actions of identity theft 26 years ago were inexcusable and the Sensible Sentencing Trust acknowledges the tremendous hurt caused to the family concerned," a statement said.

However, the trust recognised that "people make mistakes in their lives and most put those mistakes behind them and become law-abiding citizens".

It went on to say, in support of Mr Garrett: "David Garrett's present commitment to law and order and a safer society should not go unnoticed."

Mr McVicar did not return calls yesterday.

TRUST RETHINKS
* AUGUST 2005
David may have made a mistake in his past life but we have no hesitation in endorsing and vouching for the David Garrett we know today.

* YESTERDAY
David Garrett's actions of identity theft 26 years ago were inexcusable.