Ethan Thomsen fronts Ipswich court for assaulting Pizza Hut worker

The young man told his lawyer he “wasn’t thinking straight” when he stole a car and his grandad’s bank card and assaulted a Pizza Hut worker for not giving him free pizza.

An Ipswich teen has fronted court after a “bizarre” crime spree spanning a year during which he assaulted a shopkeeper for not giving him free pizza and used his grandad’s bank card to book a hotel room.

Ethan Thomsen, 19, from Brassall, appeared in Ipswich Magistrates Court via video link on April 8, where he pleaded guilty to 10 charges including fraud, common assault, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and possessing dangerous drugs.

The court heard all of the offences were committed last year, with one of the more serious offences – the common assault – occurring on July 23.

Police prosecutor Jessica Mills said an altercation arose on this date after Thomsen attended a Pizza Hut store at Brassall with a friend, believing he was entitled to a free pizza.

“When the Pizza Hut worker explained to them that it hadn’t been ordered using the promotion code, an argument began and escalated,” Ms Mills said.

“The defendant then proceeded to the front door of the shop and attempted to take the bolt lock from the door.”

She said the shopkeeper approached Thomsen and asked him to stop touching the lock. Thomsen pushed him with both his hands before running from the location on foot.

The incident was captured on CCTV footage and Thomsen was subsequently arrested.

Ms Mills said the fraud charge before the court related to the young man stealing his grandfather’s bank card and using it to book a room at a hotel, under his own name.

The teenager was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle charge after he stole a car belonging to his relative’s housemate while he was temporarily staying with them.

“He was assisting the victim in unpacking some groceries from the house,” Ms Mills said.

“She went outside and noticed her vehicle had gone and discovered that the defendant had taken it with the spare key.”

Defence lawyer Matthew Fairclough said there was a “level of immaturity” and a “lack of insight” in his client’s behaviour.

He spoke of Thomsen’s difficult upbringing, referring specifically to his father’s incarceration and his mother’s passing.

He said Thomsen told him he “wasn’t thinking straight” when he committed the offences.

The court heard the young man never had stable employment, but was eager to commence work as a painter upon his release.

Magistrate Robert Walker said the unlawful use of a motor vehicle offence was particularly “disappointing” given the victim had been generous enough to provide him with accommodation during his apparent “time of need”.

“All of these offences have serious aspects to them which are readily apparent,” he said.

Mr Walker sentenced Thomsen to a total of nine months’ imprisonment with immediate parole.

He declared the 105 days the teenager had spent in presentence custody as time served and recorded convictions for all offences.