Southport Magistrates Court wrap: Tow truck driver sentenced for car theft, dad fined for party precinct ban

A tow truck driver has issued a poor excuse for stealing a car, and lunch in the party precinct ended badly for a banned patron. See who else was in court this week.

A father-of-five landed in hot water after unlawfully towing a car he thought was abandoned, a Judge told a teen to listen to his mum more, and lunch in the party precinct ended badly for a banned patron.

See our full court wrap for this week below.

James Desmond Murphy

A Gold Coast father has been fined $200 after he dined in Surfers Paradise despite being banned from the Glitter Strip party precinct.

James Desmond Murphy, 39, on Wednesday pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court to contravening a police banning notice.

The court was told the three-month notice was issued after a “violent public nuisance charge” on March 17.

But two days later he was in Surfers Paradise dining at The Cavill Hotel and was busted by police.

James Desmond Murphy, 39.

“He had his vehicle stolen on Thursday night and was essentially looking for his vehicle,” lawyer Rijald Hadzalic said of the incident.

“He sat down to have lunch, unfortunately whether or not he was allowed to have lunch at that certain premises was not at the forefront of his mind.

“It really is a storm in a teacup.”

Murphy was issued a $200 fine.

Casey Elizabeth Jones

A bartender had to be carried to a police vehicle after a confrontation with party-goers – she allegedly cut off from the bar – in the heart of Surfers Paradise.

Casey Elizabeth Jones, 24, pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday to public nuisance and obstruct police.

The court heard about 4.30am on January 13, council cameras showed Jones having a confrontation with people on Orchid Ave.

She could be seen shouting, and pointing her finger in their face in an “erratic and aggressive manner” and later chased after them, the court was told.

Police became involved and while initially she calmed down, she began swearing and shouting. When officers tried to take her to the police van she refused and she had to be physically carried.

Lawyer Sarah Jowitt told the court her client was a bartender in Surfers Paradise and that night cut off the party-goers.

When she left the patrons were outside and a conflict ensued.

Ms Jowitt told the court Jones had been going through a difficult time and that she was remorseful.

Magistrate Dzenita Balic ordered Jones to a $100 three-month good behaviour bond. No convictions were recorded.

Griffin Shay Marshall

A teenager has been warned to listen to the advice of his mum and not his mate after giving a false name to police.

Griffin Marshall, who graduated Palm Beach Currumbin State High School last year, was seen urinating on an apartment wall by police on March 5.

When police asked for his name he was “belligerent”, gave them a false identity and tried to run away.

After he was apprehended by police they found his driver’s licence. Police also found a single diazepam tablet.

When asked why he gave a fake name, he said a friend told him to do it if he ever spoke with the cops.

Police patrolling the party precint caught the teen in the act.

Marshall pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday to public urination and obstructing police.

Lawyer Sarah Jowitt said her client was intoxicated at the time.

Magistrate Dzenita Balic ordered him to serve a $500 12-month good behaviour bond.

“Whoever gave you the advice that you should give the police a false name is not a friend of yours,” she said.

“Don’t take that sort of advice. Ignore it. Take the advice of your mother, I’m sure she won’t tell you that.”

No conviction was recorded.

Trevor John Taylor

A long-time tow truck driver lost his job and was charged after he towed a person’s car unlawfully, claiming he thought it was abandoned.

Trevor John Taylor, 45, then sold the car for cash.

Taylor pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court to unlawful possession of a motor vehicle with intent to deprive and two drug offences.

The court heard he towed a car from a street in Molendinar that had been parked there by a mechanic who was awaiting parts on March 19.

Police tracked the truck back to Taylor and raided his property on March 23.

The father-of-five told police that he believed the vehicle to be abandoned because it had been parked there for over a week.

Taylor was fined in court on Wednesday for his mistake.. Photos Scott Fletcher

The court heard he did not make any checks on the vehicle before towing it back to his place.

He sold it to a man not known to him for $500 to $600 in cash.

It was located at a scrap recycling in Brisbane’s south undamaged.

Taylor’s lawyer Sarah Jowitt said he had been a tow truck driver since the age of 17 but had lost his job over the incident.

“He recognises now that it wasn’t his place to get involved in that matter and is remorseful for his actions,” she said.

He was fined $300 and no conviction was recorded.

Adrian Anthony Crematy

A magistrate agreed to a Gold Coast man’s “very unusual” request to be put in the watchhouse overnight because he couldn’t make it back to court the next day for sentencing.

Adrian Anthony Crematy, 46, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday on a charge of public nuisance.

Crematy asked Magistrate Pamela Dowse if he could spend the night in the watchhouse because he had another matter in court the next day.

He said he was unable to make it back to court and wanted to be held in custody so he could deal with both matters on Wednesday.

“I can’t get to court tomorrow, Your Honour. I barely made it today,” Crematy said.

“I’ve got injuries – some days I can’t even use my legs.”

Magistrate Dowse said it was “very unusual” for anyone to ask to stay in the watchhouse.

“However, I can see what he’s trying to do. He’s trying to avoid a fail to appear tomorrow,” she said.

Magistrate Dowse agreed to Crematy’s request and revoked his bail.

His matter was adjourned to April 6 for sentence.

Michael Gordon Whalen

A Southport man slashed the tyres of an employee he fired after the ex-worker continued to “taunt him”, a court heard.

The Southport Magistrates Court was told on Tuesday that Michael Gordon Whalen, 47, destroyed three of the victim’s tyres in January after he came across the car parked in Surfers Paradise.

Whalen’s lawyer Ashkan Tai said his client was “extremely embarrassed” about his behaviour.

“The reason for it, he explained, was the victim had worked for him and there was a very bad reason (why) he terminated his employment,” Mr Tai said.

“That ex-worker had continued to taunt him – there was back and forth.

“He should have gone about it in a mature, proper way.”

Whalen pleaded guilty to wilful damage.

The victim did not seek restitution.

Magistrate Pamela Dowse took into account Whalen’s limited and dated criminal history when she put him on a $500 good behaviour bond for six months.

“It’s very bad behaviour – unacceptable,” she said.

No conviction was recorded.

Christopher Kennedy

A Nerang man who stole an $11 bottle of wine by putting it down his pants failed to give a reason for his bizarre behaviour.

Christopher Kennedy, 34, pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday to stealing after he looted the wine from a Goodna liquor store on April 13, 2021.

Kennedy put the wine bottle in his pants, walked out of the store and made no attempt to pay for the alcohol.

His lawyer Ashkan Tai said his client accepted the facts stated in court.

He noted Mr Kennedy had an extensive criminal history – including a sentence of three months’ imprisonment in August.

Mr Tai argued the matters should have been heard together and asked that his client be convicted and not further punished.

Magistrate Pamela Dowse did not give Kennedy further punishment. A conviction was recorded.

“If drinking is the problem, don’t be doing it. Simple,” she said.

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Originally published as Southport Magistrates Court wrap: Tow truck driver sentenced for car theft, dad fined for party precinct ban