Christopher James Webb in court for stealing two cars

A lawyer for a car thief from the Gympie region says his client is under the ‘control’ of another crim who is ‘brighter’ than him.

Christopher James Webb pleaded guilty to two charges of stealing cars from Goomeri in April. Photo: Facebook.

A 20-year-old Imbil man, who took his girlfriend on illegal joyrides in stolen cars, has fronted court.

Christopher James Webb pleaded guilty in Gympie Magistrates Court to two charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He was on a $500 good behaviour bond at the time of the April offending.

Webb hung his head low at the bar table as the facts of his crimes were read aloud.

Police prosecutor Melissa Campbell told the court Webb and his young co-accused stole a Toyota Hilux from a Goomeri property after realising the keys were inside the unlocked car.

Christopher James Webb. Photo: Facebook.

She said the two offenders picked up Webb’s girlfriend in the stolen car and drove it around for some time before returning it to the property.

Sgt Campbell said the owner of the car was alarmed to discover her previously full petrol tank was empty, an extra 700 kilometres were on the odometer and a coffee cup was left on the backseat.

She said DNA samples and fingerprints were taken from the car and matched with Webb.

Later, between 10pm on April 24 and 4.40am on April 25, Webb and his young co-accused stole a second car, a Mazda Van parked on the side of the road in front of the owner’s house, unlocked the car and used a screwdriver to start it.

Once again, the pair picked up Webb’s girlfriend and drove to an unknown location.

Sgt Campbell said the trio stopped at Traveston Puma Service Station to get fuel, and after filling the tank and paying for the goods, noticed the steering wheel had locked.

Unable to fix it, they abandoned the car at a bus drop off at the service station where it was found by police a short time later.

Traveston service station, where Webb, his underaged co-offender, and his girlfriend were caught on CCTV and abandoned the Mazda van in April.

Webb, the young associate and Webb’s girlfriend were caught on CCTV and were known to police, Sgt Campbell told the court.

Defence lawyer Mark Oliver said Webb was intellectually disabled, suffered from poor mental health and a heart condition.

He said Webb did not know the Mazda van was stolen and fainted after his young co-accused told him.

“Unfortunately, he’s got control over my client … he’s a little bit brighter than him and my client does not have a clear amount of thought when it comes to criminality,” he said.

Webb was given nine months probation, and ordered to forfeit the $500 from his good behaviour bond.

A conviction was recorded.

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