STOLEN hire cars were used to commit thefts, petrol drive-offs and police pursuits across Bendigo, a court has heard.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Robert May, 36, of Long Gully, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday on a number of charges for crimes he committed using a Toyota Hilux stolen from a Melbourne rental car business.
The court heard May used the Hilux to steal a couch from in front of a Flora Hill house on February 17, before stealing $107 in petrol from Eaglehawk BP later that day.
He also evaded police in Flora Hill later in the evening, and then stole $55 in petrol from Apco Strathdale at 1.30am the next day.
Prosecutor Sergeant David Somerton said May drove to the Parmalat factory car park in North Bendigo on February 18 where he stole another white utility from the car park, with a co-accused.
At 2am on February 19, May crashed the second stolen utility and fled the scene.
The Hilux was seen driving in the area without its headlights on. It was spotted again the next day being driven erratically in Long Gully.
At 1.30pm the utility was found abandoned on Bobs Street, White Hills, before the two men were spotted climbing through the window of a unit in Eaglehawk.
They were arrested heavily “ice affected” but refused interviews.
May was also charged with reckless assault for an incident in Long Gully on July 12, in which he punched a woman in the head in front of a house.
Defence counsel Luke Docherty said the man has schizophrenia and often commits crime when he is not self medicating with drugs.
Magistrate Patrick Southey said it was “only a matter of time” before May killed someone while driving.
“A community corrections order will help to protect you and to protect us,” he said.
May was sentenced to four months jail, a 12 month community corrections order and had his licence canceled for six months.
Amanda Lee Dunn, 29, also appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with the theft of two rental cars from Melbourne.
Dunn rented a Ford sedan on August 12 last year from a rental car company in Coburg, but it was never returned.
The business owner reported the car stolen, and police spotted it in Pantom Street, Golden Square, on September 1.
The driver – not believed to be Dunn – sped away onto Maple and then High street, driving at 90 km/h into oncoming traffic.
The court heard Dunn also hired a Hyundai i20 from a company in Tullamarine, which was never returned.
She alleged the car had been stolen from her, but did not report it to police.
Dunn was placed on a 12 month community corrections order, including 80 hours of community work and had her licence canceled for six months.