Dieter Dean Stephens sentenced for unlawful use of motor vehicle, evasion, drug offences

A man who turned to crime after moving to Qld, being busted with weapons, meth and tainted cash was caught by police after being identified in a stolen car at a Maccas drive-through.

Dieter Dean Stephens spent received a more than two year jail sentence after fleeing police at a Macca’s drive-through. Picture: Contributed

A Queensland magistrate has slammed a “career criminal” for his disgraceful behaviour following a Maccas drive-through run in with police which led to a chase.

A court heard Dieter Stephens appalling track record which included 14 jail stints in four years.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard his most recent offending was for unlawful use of a motor vehicle, evasion or failing to stop for police and drug possession after being caught in a stolen hire car in a Maccas drive-through before racing away from police — all while unlicensed.

About 1.10am, July 22 Stephens was driving a black Mazda CX30 reported stolen from Hertz Car Rental, when police identified the plates pulling out of a McDonald’s drive-through on the corner of Heaths Rd and the Bruce Highway.

When police signalled the car to pull over, Stephen sped away at 120km per hour in a 70 zone.

Dieter Dean Stephens previously spent three months in custody for assault occasioning bodily harm after headbutting another man on a night out in Cairns. Picture: Contributed.

Police identified Stephens from CCTV taken from the Glenella McDonalds.

On July 23 the vehicle was recovered from a Balbara address and when examining the car, officers found Stephens’ fingerprints on the front surface of the rear visor.

Six days later he was arrested and police raided his Slade Point Rd home.

Police found a bag containing hypodermic needle in his room and a ziplock bag containing about one gram of an orange powder containing the drug buprenorphine.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer told the court this was Stephens’ fourth time using a stolen vehicle “in a very short time”.

“He’s been sent to prison 14 times in less than four years,” Magistrate Dwyer said.

“I’m assuming he just came to Queensland in 2020.

“Ever since then he’s pretty well become a career criminal.”

Defence solicitor Laura Santin said her client made no excuses for his offending.

“Mr Stephens has admitted the facts and entered his plea guilty at the earliest opportunity,” Ms Santin said.

“He’s instructed that he’s made some stupid mistakes for which he is paying the price for now.”

Stephens was jailed for two years and three months and disqualified from driving for three years and six months.

“You are not a person of good character,” Magistrate Dwyer said.

“You have a disgraceful history.”

Stephens’ 47 days spent in the Mackay watch house will count as time served and he will be eligible for parole on January 23, 2025.