After a breakdown in Wonga Park, Kodi Thomas White was offered a lift in a stolen car which led to stint in Lotus Glen

Fresh out of Lotus Glen a Far North man fronted court after hitching a ride in stolen car so he could get home in time to meet conditions of his parole.

Accepting a lift in an associate’s car landed a Far North man in court – because the car was stolen.

The Cairns Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday that Kodi Thomas White, 22, had a history of property offences and that he had been “hanging around with a crowd of people getting into trouble”, according to his counsel, Peter Haasma.

He pleaded guilty to a single charge of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

The court was told that on April 19 this year, White was in a rental car with his girlfriend and stopped at the Wonga Beach Service Station.

Lotus Glen Prison, where Kodi Thomas White was serving time for accepting a lift in a stolen car. Picture: Stewart McLean

He could not start the car again, and was offered a lift by the driver of a Holden Cruise, also at the station at the time, the court heard.

Magistrate Gelma Meoli described the occupants of the Holden as “unknown offenders”, and she noted that White, who was under a curfew at the time for previous offending, needed to get home and accepted a lift.

“I’m told you did not know if it was stolen or not, but you would have known with the type of people in the vehicle,” she said.

“I do accept your motive was you wanted to get home because you were on a curfew.”

Mr Haasma told the court White did not ask any questions about who owned the car, “but he now accepts it was a stolen vehicle and he should have made inquiries”.

“He was trying to get home as quickly as possible before his curfew was up and he had only been out of prison for three weeks,” Mr Haasma said.

He told the court White had made an early guilty plea, made full admissions to police, and submitted the sentence should be in the realm of conviction and not further punishment.

“He has had his freedom withdrawn by community corrections, because of an action of his and he should have known better,” he said.

“And extending the suspended sentence by a week is my submission, as he is still trying to affect a change in his life. A sentence of imprisonment should be a last resort. This is at the lowest end of the scale.”

The court was told White was using drugs and was undergoing treatment on a program.

Magistrate Meoli said it was not favourable White had a number of previous offences of this type as it aggravated the situation, and he was on parole, which was also an aggravating factor.

“I am not taking the path of not convicting and not further punishing, that would be too lenient,” she said.

“Seeing as you are trying to get your life back on track, perhaps a short period of probation might help you. I don’t want to stop you from working.”

Mr Haasma agreed a period of nine to 12-months probation would be appropriate and White “would do well”.

Magistrate Meoli accepted White’s offending was at the lower end of the scale and sentenced him to 12-months probation and a six-month licence disqualification.

He will need to apply for parole before he is released.

Originally published as After a breakdown in Wonga Park, Kodi Thomas White was offered a lift in a stolen car which led to stint in Lotus Glen