Gavin John West sentenced in court for unlawful use of a motor vehicle

After missing the bus to work, a Capricorn Coast man “panicked” and drove his friend’s car to Rockhampton unlicensed and without permission, crashing it before reaching town.

After missing the bus to work, a Capricorn Coast man “panicked” and drove his friend’s car to Rockhampton unlicensed and without permission, crashing it before reaching town.

Gavin John West pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates on January 6 to one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, driving without a licence and contravene direction or requirement of police.

Police prosecutor Stacey Bain said the victim had left his vehicle and keys at West’s house on November 27, 2021.

Ms Bain said West used the keys to drive the victim’s vehicle without permission on November 30 about 7am and crashed the vehicle on Yeppoon Road about half an hour later.

She said West’s driver’s licence was disqualified on January 21, 2021 in Yeppoon Magistrates Court for 11 months.

She said West was issued with an identifying particulars notice on November 30 and failed to attend the police station in seven days to have his identifying particulars taken.

West told the court he went to catch a bus to get to work in Rockhampton like he normally did, but missed it and panicked.

He said the victim, who was a friend of his, had visited and left his keys at his house.

“I panicked, grabbed the keys of the table and took his car,” he said.

“I started to have an epileptic seizure and couldn’t pull over as there were guard rails on either side of the road and crashed and went through the guardrail.

“I did the wrong thing.”

He said the victim’s car was written off and he didn’t think he would drive again due to his epilepsy.

West was fined $1900 and disqualified from driving for two years with convictions recorded.