Lynton Lionel Leo in Rockhampton court for unlawful use of motor vehicle

A car thief involved in a violent carjacking where a man was attacked with a tomahawk in broad daylight was found five days later asleep in a stolen vehicle.

Lynton Lionel Leo.

A car thief who was involved in a violent carjacking in broad daylight in Rockhampton where a man was attacked with a tomahawk was found five days later asleep in a another stolen vehicle.

Rockhampton Magistrates Court heard a 2009 Mitsubishi Triton was stolen from a home on Franks St, Berserker, by someone on February 13, 2023.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Darrell Dalton said Lynton Lionel Leo, 29, was found asleep in the driver’s seat of the vehicle, which was parked on Pummell St, Norman Gardens, at 2am on February 15, 2023.

Leo was arrested and taken to the Rockhampton Watchhouse.

Lynton Lionel Leo.

Sergeant Dalton said Leo told police the vehicle had been parked out the front of his parents home on Murray St, Rockhampton City.

“He was aware of another person who had stolen the vehicle,” he said.

“He has taken the keys in relation to this vehicle and has driven away from that address.”

Sergeant Dalton said Leo had driven around town before falling asleep in the vehicle.

Leo, who had a six-page criminal record, was sentenced to three years prison with parole eligibility on April 23, 2024 in the District Court in Rockhampton on January 31 after pleading guilty to one count each of armed robbery in company with wounding, unlawful use of a vehicle and dangerous operation of a vehicle.

Sergeant Dalton said the unlawful use of motor vehicle offence before the court occurred five days after Leo was involved in the carjacking at a unit complex on Upper Dawson Rd, Allenstown.

Leo’s solicitor, Pierre Lammersdorf, said as a result of significant substance abuse and drug use, unfortunately his client had “chosen the wrong path moving forward”.

“That has culminated in the serious convictions that were imposed in January this year,” he said.

Leo pleaded guilty on February 29 to unlawful use of motor vehicle.

Magistrate Cameron Press sentenced Leo to nine months prison, which will concurrently with his three-year prison sentence from the District Court, and declared 379 days of pre-sentence custody as time already served.

Leo will still be eligible for parole on April 23, 2024.