Stewart Richard Satrick 40, pleads guilty to unlawful use of a motor vehicle

A man with a history of driving stolen cars told police his latest offence came as a result of someone giving him a gift.

Always lock your car to deter vehicle thefts.

STEWART Satrick has a taste for cars – often other people’s — and he was back in court this week after being caught behind the wheel of a stolen Toyota Camry.

In the latest offending he denied stealing the car, claiming that a mate gave him the keys.

Going before Ipswich Magistrates Court for sentence, Stewart Richard Satrick 40, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a motor vehicle between May 20-28; receiving tainted property; driving when disqualified on May 27; possession of dangerous drugs; and failing to safely dispose of used needle/syringe.

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess said Satrick had a 15-page criminal history and seven pages of traffic history.

She said he had never held anything other than a learner licence that expired 20 years ago.

Prosecutor Sergeant Nicholas Turnbull said Satrick was on parole at the time for prior offences that also related to motor vehicles.

Magistrate Sturgess said it was his second unlawful use of a vehicle charge this year and Satrick had two more prior offences last year.

Defence barrister Kevin Rose said Satrick was a 40-year-old father of four whose cultural background was Torres Strait Islander.

“He instructs he has been an ice user since the age of 15. At that time he was in mourning for his mother and then was not able to get off it,” he said.

Mr Rose said he could not disagree with the police submission on sentence when considering Satrick’s previous sentence had been nine months jail for dangerous driving and unlawful use.

Mr Rose said the Queensland Parole Board was taking nine months to process parole applications by prisoners and this delay likely meant he would potentially serve his full sentence.

“He says he had been off ice for eight months but relapsed at the time of this offending. He has also been estranged from his family,” Mr Rose said.

Ms Sturgess noted that Satrick was found with a Toyota Camry reported to have been stolen from Runcorn.

When police had located him on a warrant Satrick had been driving the stolen Camry at Bundamba.

Two clip seal bags and two used needles/syringes were found in the front of the car. Another used needle was found in the back seat with another among his belongings.

“He told police a mate had given him the car. Says the mate was named Maddy and he did not know anything more about it,” Ms Sturgess said after reading police facts.

Ms Sturgess counted out his previous convictions for being in unlawful possession of cars, with charges in 2006, 2008, 2014, two in 2020, and now two in 2021. Offences also included dangerous driving.

“It is very poor history. You have never held a licence and repeatedly been involved in driving stolen cars,” she said.

The magistrate also noted that he’d been released on parole on April 29 then reoffended within a month.

Satrick was convicted and sentenced to 15-months jail, with lesser jail terms. All are concurrent with his existing jail term.

He was given immediate eligibility to start making his parole application.