November 26, 2012
A 17-year-old teenager who pleaded guilty to four offences after a stolen BMW was driven from Brisbane to Cherbourg on February 16 has been ordered to perform 100 hours community service.
Along the way the vehicle stopped at a BP garage in Kilcoy for a top-up of petrol and drove off without paying.
At one stage the vehicle, which was being driven by the boy’s brother, was clocked by rader travelling at 158km/h.
Jonathan Daniel Sullivan was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two counts of endangering public safety and stealing.
Kingaroy Magistrates Court was told on Thursday that police had tried to stop the vehicle at Moffatdale by deploying stingers across the road but the car continued towards Murgon with a shredded tyre.
Police Prosecutor Sgt Wayne Bushell said Sullivan had then placed his body outside the vehicle to throw objects at the pursuing police car. These struck the police car and left debris on the roadway.
The vehicle, with police in pursuit, turned into the Cherbourg Road and headed towards the town. As it entered Broadway Street, Sullivan had again thrown objects at the police car.
The BMW then stopped and Sullivan ran from the rear passenger door but was apprehended by police.
Solicitor Mark Oliver, for Sullivan, said his client had been drinking in Musgrave Park in Brisbane with his older brother when “somehow” his brother came into possession of the car keys and decided to drive home to Cherbourg.
“His brother is six years older than him and when he is intoxicated he won’t listen to reason,” Mr Oliver said.
He said his client feared that if they were pulled over outside Cherbourg “he might be treated roughly by police”.
“That’s why he threw items out of the car to slow down police,” Mr Oliver said.
“What he did was foolish. He was very inebriated at the time.”
Magistrate Mark Bucknall said Sullivan had participated in the unlawful use of the motor vehicle, had stolen petrol and on at least two occasions had endangered police by throwing objects at their vehicle. The manner of the driving of the vehicle was not attributable to him and he was not charged over that.
However the probable consequences of throwing objects from a moving vehicle at the vehicle pursuing it could not be overstated.
“It’s not silly, it’s criminal,” Mr Bucknall said.
“The offence is a concerning one, and one that is particularly prevalent in the Cherbourg community … young people take vehicles willy nilly, crash them and endanger other people.”
He placed Sullivan on a 15-month supervision order and ordered him to complete 100 hours community service. No conviction was recorded as it was his first offence.
