Jayden Peter McMahon Gray pleads guilty to theft, break and enter

A teenage thief, who targeted a jeweller and gym, was tracked through bushland by police dogs to a service station near Gympie where he had already been arrested.

Jayden Peter McMahon Gray pleaded guilty in Gympie Magistrates Court to charges including break and enter and stealing.

A teenager who stole $3000 in jewellery from a shop and swiped a car from its owner’s yard has been told to keep his nose clean for two years or else.

Jayden Peter McMahon Gray, 19, pleaded guilty to multiple charges in Gympie Magistrates Court on Monday. The charges related to a string of crimes committed over six months in late 2021 and early 2022.

Gray, who told the court he lives at The Palms with his grandparents, started his spree between 4pm August 25, 2021, and 8.20am, August 26.

Police prosecutor Melissa Campbell said Gray used a sledgehammer to smash the front glass window of the Neighbours Aid Op Shop on River Rd in Gympie.

He grabbed a jewellery case containing $3000 worth of items sitting inside the window, and fled on foot.

Sgt Campbell said he was caught on CCTV.

Jayden Gray was sentenced to two years’ probation after pleading guilty in Gympie Magistrates Court.

A few days later, about 3,30pm on August 29, 2021, he swiped a Mazda car key from the backpack of a customer at Snap Fitness.

The key was in the victim’s bag; the court heard Gray stole it while rummaging through multiple customers’ bags at the gym.

It cost the victim $500 to replace the key.

Gray was again caught on CCTV.

On February 11, 2022, the 19-year-old stole a 2002 Subaru Outback from outside its owner’s home.

Sgt Campbell said the car was seen at the Traveston Puma service station with false plates.

The car was later found by abandoned in an emergency bay on the Bruce Highway.

The court heard police dogs tracked Gray through bushland to the service station where he had already been arrested.

The court heard the car Jayden Gray had stolen from its owner’s yard was seen at the Traveston Service Station with false license plates.

Representing himself, Gray offered up little in is own defence, telling magistrate Chris Callaghan he had “nothing to say”.

He also did not know his residential address “off heart”.

Mr Callaghan said he was trying to help but Gray was “not really telling me anything”.

“I don’t need help,” Gray said, adding that his sentence should be “whatever you reckon”.

“I can’t change what I’ve done,” Gray said.

After further questioning he said drugs “were a problem at the time (of his crimes)” but not now.

Gray pleaded guilty to stealing the key, breaking and entering, and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He was placed on two years’ probation with no conviction recorded.