Reece Stuart William Hogg jailed for disqualified driving, evasion

A young man had only been on parole for five weeks when he evaded police for the 10th time while driving disqualified for the 17th time. Read what else he did.

Reece Stuart William Hogg, 23, had been in jail for committing a string of offences including reckless driving in a unregistered and uninsured car with false plates.

A young man had only been on parole for five weeks when he evaded police for the 10th time while driving disqualified for the 17th time.

Reece Stuart William Hogg, 23, had been in jail for committing a string of offences including reckless driving in an unregistered and uninsured car with false plates on October 25 last year.

That time behind bars followed on from a 12-month suspended jail term, after Hogg was sentenced for possessing drugs, Viagra, multiple weapons and more than $12,000, having been swept up in Operation Limerick which targeted dangerous drug supply in the Mackay region.

Hogg faced Mackay Magistrates Court on Thursday where he was again sentenced to time in jail for his criminal behaviour and “very, very bad driving”.

The court heard Hogg was released on parole on July 2. Five weeks later, he was breaking into Mackay region properties and stealing cars to fund his meth use.

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan said the August 16 and 23 break-ins were “sophisticated” and involved Hogg and a co-offender cutting through chains to gain entry.

Ms Hartigan said they stole cars from four properties including Clayton’s Towing, and broke into but did not steal a car from CFT Security.

She said he also sped away from the police for the 10th occasion and coupled with what was now his 17th disqualified driving offence, his traffic history and “very, very bad” driving made for the “most serious” offending.

Barron and Allen Lawyers solicitor Aaron Sellentin said Hogg had tried to do courses and work while in custody but was on a waiting list.

Ms Hartigan said she took this into account, as well as Hogg’s early guilty pleas, and the prospect he should be able to find a job once out of jail, as he had on the last parole release.

Hogg had previously pleaded guilty to multiple charges including unlawful use of motor vehicle in the night, three counts of unlawful use of motor vehicles in the night in company, enter premises and commit indictable offence by break, enter premises with intent, and unlawful possession of a flick knife.

He was sentenced to 18 months jail with a parole eligibility release date of November 23, having already served 57 days in pre-sentence custody.

Ms Hartigan disqualified Hogg’s licence for two years, extending the disqualification period until July 12, 2026.

Convictions were recorded.