Anyone see the pics and article on him in today's Herald Sun? What a disgrace. All these dirty status updates on Facebook make sense to me now....see below, it's worth a read....



THE disgraced cross-dressing commander of HSD C.C's 2nd X1 pleaded guilty today to 86 lurid sex crimes, including two murders that "stunned" the DDCA.

Prince Matt Downe, 47, a married man who once captain/coached the HSD C.C displayed no emotion as he admitted to his crimes in a Dandenong courtroom.

He faces life in prison, with no possibility of parole for at least 25 years.

One victim's brother, Andy Ernst, said it was "overwhelming" seeing the evidence presented in court, including hundreds of photographs of Downe wearing stolen undergarments in his victims' bedrooms and masturbating.

"I thought it was disgusting," he said. "These were terrible, terrible acts."

"It makes me, as a Dovetonian and as a regular human being, angry."

HSD C.C President and spokesperson Brian Milne, said Downe's crimes "stunned all Dovetonites and none more so than the members of the HSD Cricket Club."

Downe was a rising star who was being groomed for top leadership roles within the DDCA.

His "guilty plea is the first step in a healing process that will no doubt take many years", said Milne.

Police arrested Downe in August for the disappearance and death of 27-year-old Brett Ernst, last heard from the previous month under the alias of Players Agent. He was caught when his vehicle's tyre treads were matched at a police roadside checkpoint to tracks at the crime scene (Dunblane Rd, Noble Park). He was seen on numerous occasions doing fishtales and donuts in his car, particularly at this location where he once flicked loose stones into one unlucky girl's eye who is now blind for life.

Downe was later charged with the rape of a 72 year old female canteen lady under his command at Reedy Reserve in November 2009, as well as in two home invasions in which two women were confined and sexually assaulted.

He was also charged with an additional 82 counts of break-and-enter and attempted break-and-enter in Doveton, Victoria, and a third locality, Hampton Park.

A stash of women's undergarments taken by police from Downe's residence were linked to burglaries near his home and job as a janitor at the Hampton Park Primary School.

An agreed statement of facts read out in the Dandenong Supreme Court traced the escalation of his offences starting in September 2007.

"Given the seriousness of charges, it's important for the court to have a full account of the facts," said prosecutor Rocky Burdett. "These facts will be extremely disturbing."

The stolen lingerie was meticulously categorised and stored in bags and boxes discovered at his Doveton Commission home, which he shared with is wife of 19 years. The court heard that he periodically disposed of the loot when he had accumulated too much.

His criminal fetish escalated in late 2009 when he attacked his first victim, waking her from a deep slumber, tying and blindfolding her, and then snapping a half-dozen photographs of her semi-naked in her home, whilst he rubbed baby oil on his head and continously masturbated.

He would later recount the assault in a two-page document saved on his computer.

Dressed in a blue singlet, stubby shorts and a pair of grey moccasins, Downe responded to each charge: "Pharking Guilty, your honour."

The court heard that only 17 homeowners had reported their homes had been broken into, while Downe's other burglaries went undetected prior to his arrest and confession to police.

Most of the break-ins occurred at night, and at least once while he wore his old Doveton Footy Club jumper. In a few cases, he left short messages, such as "seen better".

While in prison, he attempted suicide and held a hunger strike, but co-operated fully with investigators.

-- Edited by G Train on Wednesday 20th of October 2010 02:47:59 PM