Nebo teen Riley Michael Memorey pleads guilty to car theft, wilful damage at Townsville hospital

A teen car thief with a two-day old child stole a vehicle from a fellow new father seeing his child for the first time, causing a ruckus on his drive away.

Townsville University Hospital: Picture: Evan Morgan

A Mackay region teen car thief stole a vehicle from a new father who was visiting his wife in hospital after she had just had a baby and used it to damage a boom gate fleeing the scene.

Riley Michael Memorey is just 19 years old and he’s already breached probation and intensive correction orders.

The Nebo man was back in Mackay Magistrates court on four charges including a burglary and stealing at Rural View in June 2024, and stealing a car from Townsville University Hospital, wilfully damaging a boom gate and driving while disqualified.

Memorey, who has spent about 51 days in custody on remand, told his lawyer the recent birth of his own child had “changed his outlook”.

But the court heard two days after his daughter was born, he was stealing a car parked at the Townsville hospital.

“He was just out celebrating was he?” Magistrate Damien Dwyer asked.

“Speaking of celebrating birthday, this was a fellow who went there because his son was born that day. He left it in the hospital car park.”

The court heard Memorey went there, took the vehicle, “crashed through the boom gate, and was disqualified”.

He pleaded guilty to the four charges.

Riley Michael Memorey, 19, pleaded guilty to four charges including destroying a boom gate at Townsville University Hospital and burglary at a Rural View home.

“So why did he steal a car?” Mr Dwyer asked.

Barron and Allen solicitor Aaron Sellentin said his client had a meth addiction and behavioural issues growing up but now that he had a two-month old daughter he wasn’t to “stay away … from his offending ways”.

The court heard Memorey had instructed he was not on drugs at the time but had been going through some mental health issues.

“He was struggling and he returned to his criminal offending,” Mr Sellentin said.

“This is the same things I’ve heard over and over and over again,” Mr Dwyer said.

Mr Dwyer told the court Memorey’s age “is about all he’s got going for him”, but conceded the teen could not be classed as a recidivist offender.

When Mr Dwyer broached the topic of restitution for the boom gate, the court heard prosecution was not seeking any money.

“Why should the community have to pay for this?” Mr Dwyer said.

Mr Sellentin pushed against any restitution, arguing his client had been on Centrelink before he was remanded in custody.

The matter was adjourned to later this month for police to provide the restitution amount.