A new twist to the story of prison escapee Darko “Dougie” Desic, who turned himself in after 30 years of living as a handyman in Northern Beaches, has been revealed.
Desic broke out of Grafton correctional facility on July 31, 1992, after serving 13 months of his three-and-a-half years of a prison sentence for growing marijuana, using hacksaw blade and bolt cutters; he was 35 years old then.
He said he escaped prison out of fear of being deported after completing his prison term to what used to be Yugoslavia, where he believes he would be punished for failing to complete his compulsory military service.
He remained under the radar for 30 years whilst living in Avalon and working as a cash-in-hand labourer, until the pandemic happened. Left with no means to support himself and homeless, the now 64-year-old opted to hand himself to Dee Why Police Station.
Before he was sent back to prison, Darko took the time to make one request that will end up touching someone’s life. He asked his friend Scott Matthewson to search for the owner of a gold medal that he found whilst living a life on the run in Northern Beaches. The rightful owner of the gold Victory Medal turned out to be Ernest Charles May from Melbourne.
May was awarded the gold medal in 1919 after serving in the Great War. He was wounded three times, had miraculously survived being buried in a collapsed trench before getting gassed with sulphur mustard.
The war veteran gave his World War I medal to his nephew John Paul Bell back in 1962 who had it hanging on his key ring when he lost it whilst walking on Avalon Beach. Mr Bell then learned about Desic’s story whilst reading his Pittwater Life magazine which showed a photo of his uncle’s medal.
Locals who have known “Dougie” for years rallied behind him upon learning that he was in jail and organised a GoFundMe to help him “rebuild his life”.
“Seems like he was a small offender and the laws were harsher back then for people growing pot. Meanwhile, he has stayed out of trouble and has had this problem hanging over his head for half his life. Also, he has helped our community and been a decent fellow,” the fundraiser stated.
“Remember he has been in our community for thirty years and ended up homeless on our beach at Avalon. Never did he hurt anybody. He is in jail now.”
“Dougie” is set to be granted parole as early as August 2022 but he could face deportation upon release.
