A young Lavington man who stole a car that he then used to cart around two mates on a crime spree has been spared any more jail.
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Deon Russell Clark has been in custody since August 20, but has now been released on an 15-month intensive corrections order.
“I consider these very serious offences,” magistrate Tony Murray said in sentencing Clark, who appeared in Albury Local Court via a video link to jail.
Mr Murray also convicted Clark and imposed four $110 fines.
Clark had pleaded guilty to two separate sets of charges, including drive convenience without consent of owner, a second offence of unlicensed driving and two counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception.
The court was told that Clark, 24, had a “minimal” criminal record and lived with his grandmother, though had admitted he smoked cannabis daily.
Mr Murray was told how a Victorian-registered Ford Courier utility was parked outside a Union Road, North Albury, resident on May 21 about 5.30pm.
The ute was locked, but the owner left his keys on a seat on the front verandah of the house. About 7.40am the next day the owner went outside to find both the keys and ute gone.
He reported the theft to police. It was over this incident that Clark faced three charges.
Police said Clark, plus a co-accused and another man, parked the ute beside the diesel pump at the Coles Express petrol station in Wagga Road, Lavington, on June 27 about 12.50am.
Clark put 64 litres of fuel, at a cost of $82.19, into the ute. At the same time, an attendant at the outlet saw there were no number plates on the vehicle and so walked outside to investigate.
But before he could take it any further, Clark – who had never held a licence – drove away.
In another incident, police said it was some time after 6pm on June 28 when “unknown persons” removed number plates from a Toyota Hiace. These plates were then put on the Ford utility.
About 9.30pm Clark and the two other men drove the ute to Thurgoona, where they stole items from three cars.
One car’s window was smashed and a handbag was stolen, while other items to go missing included a $500 laptop computer, a small fridge and a satellite phone.
Credit cards fom the handbag were used to fraudulently buy items including cigarettes.
