Woman sold stolen car to pay for mortgage

The woman threatened to ‘bash’ the victim’s father with his own walking stick.

CAUGHT: A woman refused to give back the money the victim paid for the car.

SHARON Annette Taylor, 61, lost more than she gained after selling a stolen car to a man, and spending the money on her mortgage payment.

Police prosecutor sergeant Derek Brady told Dalby Magistrates Court that at 10.30am on July 15, the victim went to Taylor’s house to buy a car for $2000 after Taylor had advertised it online.

The victim paid for the vehicle and was given a roadworthy certificate, however after having the vehicle inspected, he was told the vehicle had been registered as stolen. The victim went to police and informed them immediately.

At 4.50pm, police attended Taylor’s address to inform her the car had been registered as stolen. Taylor told police she had received the car from “associates” but did not realise it was stolen.

At 8.30pm on September 8, police attended Taylor’s address a second time because she had not yet returned the $2000 that was owed back to the victim, telling Taylor the victim had experienced “financial struggles” as a result.

The defendant told police she had been having issues with the victim’s father so she had not returned the money.

Taylor told the Dalby Magistrates Court that she had bought the car from her neighbour for “scrap”, but because she was behind on her mortgage she had planned to sell the car.

By the time police arrived at her house, and told her the car was stolen and she needed to return the money to the victim, she had already put the money in the bank to go towards her mortgage.

The defendant told the court that the victim said to her he “didn’t want the money, he wanted a car”.

Taylor said the victim’s father allegedly called her and threatened her when she didn’t return the money immediately. She also alleged the father came to her home and “attacked” her with his walking stick, to which she then threatened to “bash him with his own walking stick”.

The defendant reported the attack to police.

Taylor pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by dishonestly gaining benefit or disadvantage.

Magistrate Tracy Mossop ordered Taylor pay the victim $2000 compensation, and fined her an additional $800. No conviction was recorded.

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