Alex Kenneth Smith sentenced in Rockhampton Magistrates Court

The day after being sentenced for his role in the 2021 Capricornia Correctional Centre riot, a man was back in court for driving off in another man’s car.

Alex Kenneth Smith. Picture: Facebook

A court has heard how a man involved in the 2021 prison riot stole a car from someone at a Rockhampton service station while armed with him with a piece of wood.

Alex Kenneth Smith, 33, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court to 12 offences including two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, four counts of stealing, three counts of disqualified driving, obstructing police, possessing a knife in a public place and unlawful possession of suspected stolen property.

The court heard Smith went to a Rockhampton service station in August 2022 where he went up to a man and threatened him with a piece of wood.

Smith then drove off in the man’s car.

On August 4 this year Smith went to the Ampol Service Station at Gracemere where he got out of the car and pumped about $52 of fuel into a car then drove off without paying.

Smith’s sentencing in the magistrates court came a day after he was dealt with in the Rockhampton District Court for his role in the 2021 riot at Capricornia Correctional Centre.

His lawyer Ashley Reynolds told the court Smith had a “significant” drug addiction and had been using meth since the age of 16.

She said Smith had been clean since going into custody in August.

Ms Reynolds said Smith had plans to live with his sister in Woorabinda upon his release, who had strict conditions for him to enter a rehabilitation program before he lives with her.

She said all of Smith’s declarable time on remand had already been declared in the district court sentence.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said Smith’s pleas of guilty “demonstrated remorse” and took it into account when sentencing.

Smith received a head sentence of 12 months imprisonment with an immediate parole eligibility.