Jacke Hart Holswilder pleads guilty to stealing taxi after assaulting driver – and to breaching a suspended sentence

The 39-year-old appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court to answer for the violent series of events.

A man who assaulted a taxi driver, stole his taxi and drive to a Pooraka McDonalds has pleaded guilty – and admitted to breaching a suspended sentence bond which was yet to be charged.

On Friday, Jacke Hart Holswilder, 39, appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court via video link charged with assault, driving a motor vehicle without consent and property damage following what started as a standard CBD taxi hailing.

The court heard the Taperoo man would also enter a guilty pleas to a breach of bond yet to be laid – which would see him remain in custody for the remaining three months of his prior sentence.

Jacke Hart Holswilder plead guilty to all charges relating to the theft of a taxi before his arrest in a McDonalds drive thru. Picture: Facebook

It was alleged that on Sunday March 3 at around 3.45am Holswilder hailed a taxi on King William St looking to head to Hindley St.

When the driver asked him how he would be paying, Holswilder got aggressive and punched the driver to the left side of his body and attempted to continue to assault him as he got out.

The driver was uninjured by the attack.

The male driver remained in possession of the electronic key fob, but the car was still running as Holswilder slid over the centre console and drove off.

Police tracked the vehicle, via GPS, to Main North Rd where it stopped at McDonald’s in Pooraka.

Police along with Dog Operations PD Chaos arrived to the scene and found the vehicle, with the man, in the drive-through lane.

Holswilder was unrepresented in court, and did not request time to seek a lawyer. Picture: Facebook

The eftpos machine in the taxi had been damaged and the computer screen removed to expose wiring behind the dashboard and damages were sought by the owner for the repairs.

Holswilder was unrepresented in court as he entered his pleas, and declined the opportunity presented by Magistrate Melanie Burton to seek legal advice.

Police prosecution revealed that a charge of breaching a suspended sentence would need to be laid during the next court hearing, but Holswilder pre-emptively plead his guilt to the charge.

He also informed the court he was aware he had three months he would be required to serve as a result of his offending, and told the court he would not be seeking to have it suspended or served on home detention.

The court heard his prior sentence was for 15 charges including five counts of assault, aggravated assault, three counts of property damage, theft and indecent behaviour.

Ms Burton remanded Holswilder in custody and order a pre-sentencing report to return to Elizabeth later this month.