Jahmal Steven Sarabo-Leste in court for break and enter, stealing cars, fuel
A young Gympie car thief, who took part in a drunken spree at crime-plagued Townville, has been described as a “talented driver” by the sentencing magistrate.
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A 22-year-old Goomboorian man was described by a magistrate as “a talented driver” after it was revealed he and a mate went on a drunken crime-spree and joy ride through Townsville in March.
Jahmal Steven Sarabo-Leste pleaded guilty in Gympie Magistrates Court to 10 charges on Monday, including three of break and enter, four counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two of stealing fuel and one of driving unlicensed.
He was supported by his sister in the public gallery.
The court heard Sarabo-Leste and a co-accused friend, went on a drunken escapade through Townsville where they stole two cars, a tractor and a forklift.
Sarabo-Leste did not and never had held a licence at the time.
Sarabo-Leste and the co-accused stole the cars to get around various locations in Townsville, and managed to travel from Barratta to Ingham, north of Townsville.
At one point, the pair stole a tractor from Barratta and drove it to the edge of the property before swapping their getaway car for a Holden Ute, the court heard.
This ute was then used to steal diesel fuel from two separate petrol stations.
The police prosecutor, who asked to remain anonymous, said young adults stealing cars for joy rides was “prevalent” in the Townsville area.
Sarabo-Leste’s defence lawyer Leanne McIntosh said her client had moved away from a negative group of friends and was now living with his sister and had obtained a job working in a nursery.
She said her client was “incredibly intoxicated” on the night of the crimes, and did not have a clear memory of what had happened aside from being in the stolen vehicles.
She said Sarabo-Leste had not reoffended since the crimes, and was sober from drugs and alcohol after attending counselling.
Magistrate Chris Callaghan described Sarabo-Leste as a “talented driver” given his lack of a license, and spared him a jail sentence after hearing how the young man turned his life around.
Sarabo-Leste was sentenced to 12 months behind bars, but given immediate parole.
He was disqualified from driving for three months and ordered to pay $101.21 restitution for the stolen fuel.
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