Michael Shane Kemp assaulted owner of car he stole from Park Avenue

The offspring of drug addicts and alcoholics was chased down by the owner of a car he stole before assaulting the man and threatening him with a piece of wood, a court heard.

A man was assaulted after chasing down a car thief in Rockhampton.

A car thief, who the court heard is the offspring of drug addicts and alcoholics, was chased by the owner of a car he stole before assaulting the man and threatening him with a piece of wood.

Michael Shane Kemp, 25, was busted driving stolen cars twice earlier this year – once in a female friend’s car he took without asking and then in a car he stole from Park Avenue where he was chased by the male owner.

Senior Constable Sarah Rowe said the most serious in Kemp’s set of offences was an assault occasioning bodily harm on March 16 at Park Avenue, where he punched several times the male owner of a car he’d stolen.

“Then there was damage to the victim’s car as he exited, removed the keys and has thrown them away from the victim,” she said.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said Kemp may have known the AOBH victim, or his associate, according to the evidence before the court.

“When he’s tried to stop you, followed you in the stolen vehicle, you offered violence to him,” she said.

Senior Constable Rowe said Kemp, who has a seven page criminal record, continued to threaten the victim with a piece of wood before the victim left in his vehicle.

Ms Beckinsale said the other disqualified driving offence took place in February when Kemp took advantage of a friend for the unlawful use of a motor vehicle charge.

She said Kemp was a guest in a house and took off in his friend’s car and also took her bank card which he used to put fuel in the car and then withdraw $350 from her account, as well as purchase food from McDonald’s.

Defence lawyer Pierre Lammersdorf said both of Kemp’s parents were drug addicts and alcoholics.

He said his client started smoking marijuana when he was 11 before moving on to drinking alcohol and using methamphetamines by age 13.

Mr Lammersdorf said Kemp was incarcerated when his mother died in 2021.

Kemp pleaded guilty on June 13 in Rockhampton Magistrates Court to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm, two of disqualified driving, one enter premises and commit indictable offence by break, 1 fraud- dishonest gain, four counts of stealing, one of wilful damage, one trespass and two unlawful uses of motor vehicles.

He was sentenced to 12 months prison with 70 days presentence custody declared as time already served and parole release set for August 4, 2023.