Car thief Braithen Anthony Yoren filmed himself driving a stolen car and posed for photographs

A car thief who filmed himself driving a stolen car and posed for photographs in front of another stolen car uploaded evidence of his crimes to social media. Now, he’s been released back into the community.

A car thief who filmed himself driving a stolen car and posed for photographs in front of another stolen car uploaded evidence of his crimes to social media.

Braithen Anthony Yoren, 18, pleaded guilty on December 13 in Rockhampton Magistrates Court to 13 charges including four counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, attempted burglary, burglary, receiving tainted property, stealing fuel and obstruct police.

Police prosecutor Brandy Butler said Yoren drove a Holden Colorado, stolen from the Baralaba mine site, to Duaringa where he carried out a fuel drive off and left the vehicle near a football field at Baralaba-Woorabinda Road, Woorabinda.

An unknown offender stole a BMW X5 from a garage at Moura. It was driven to Rockhampton and around Woorabinda.

Yoren’s fingerprints were in the vehicle. These offences took place between August 13-15.

Weeks later, a silver 2014 Suzuki sedan was stolen from Inverness at the Capricorn Coast and was driven by Yoren.

His driving was witnessed by a community member, as he drove along Carbine Street in Woorabinda, roaring, speeding and driving in an erratic manner.

Ms Butler said a video uploaded to social media showed Yoren driving another stolen vehicle – a Toyota Land Cruiser – and also as a passenger.

She said Yoren received Suzuki keys and his fingerprints were on a plastic bag outside the dwelling the keys had been stolen from.

Ms Butler said a 2015 Ford Ranger was stolen from outside the victim’s caravan at Causeway Lake caravan park.

She said Yoren was caught on footage in the Ranger.

Yoren tried to enter Sea Breeze Service station, which was locked at 9.45pm on September 3, with Yoren taking a fishing knife from the Ranger and using it to strike a door at the rear of the shop.

He then went to the Sea Breeze Marine part of the building where he attempted to break open the front glass sliding door using the fishing knife, causing such damage to the lock and handle they were deemed inoperable.

Yoren posed for a photo shoot in front of a stolen 2010 Ford Falcon, in front of the bonnet and next to the passenger door.

He was also captured on CCTV with the stolen Falcon.

Ms Butler said on September 4, police found Yoren at a Norman Gardens residence, asleep.

She said Yoren was woken and as he was placed under arrest, he pulled his arms into his torso at elbow height and clenched his fists into his chest in order to prevent being handcuffed.

Ms Butler said Yoren pushed backwards against a bedroom wall and continued to struggle with police who were attempting to handcuff him.

She said he then used his right hand to push against the wall, causing the police trying to handcuff him to move backwards.

He continued to resist for about three minutes.

Defence lawyer Brendan Gimbert said his client turned 18 in July and had been working for the Woorabinda Pastural Company until he carried out this offending.

He said the former Glenmore High School student had smoked marijuana every day for two years.

The court heard Yoren’s partner and mother of his three-month old child worked at the Moranbah mines as a cleaner and was a stabilising element in his life.

Magistrate Jason Schubert told Yoren to “pull your socks up and be a better role model” and “don’t touch property that’s not yours”.

He sentenced Yoren to 12 months prison, declared 100 days presentence custody as time served with immediate release on parole and 12 months probation.

Yoren was also ordered to pay $74.09 restitution for the fuel.