Rockhampton’s Jacob Lyle Aberdein jail term for stolen cars, drugs

An 18-year-old car thief has been warned many people in the community quite literally pay for crimes like his.

Generic image of car thief.

A young car thief found himself accounting for his actions in court after he went on a two month long crime spree almost immediately after turning 18.

Jacob Lyle Aberdein was busted for unlawful use of a motor vehicle in November, then again three more times in December and two at the end of January, the Rockhampton Magistrates Court heard this week.

He also admitted he had $210 cash in his wallet was from selling drugs and police found 141g of marijuana on him.

Defence lawyer Ashley Reynolds said Aberdein was the youngest of five and his mother was diagnosed with a brain tumour when he was nine.

She said Aberdein’s mother’s death in 2021 and her being unwell throughout much of his childhood had “a significant impact” on him and his schooling.

Ms Reynolds said following his mother’s death, Aberdein spent time with “certain peers” and abused alcohol as he struggled with his grief.

“He only began to realise in the past year that this has become an ongoing problem for him,” she said.

Ms Reynolds said there were positive factors in his ability to rehabilitate, including his father working full-time at the meatworks, the defendant being “an intelligent young man”, and support from his older sisters – one who works in the mines.

She said he had demonstrated insight into his alcohol problems and expressed remorse and shame over his criminal behaviour.

“He did make very extensive and honest admissions to police … he went to the police himself; he said that he wanted to talk to them about it,” Ms Reynolds said.

Magistrate Cameron Press urged Aberdein to focus on getting employment and continue with his engagement with Darumbal Youth Services and Lives Lived Well.

He said the unlawful use of motor vehicles offences were “just all too common in our society”.

“It causes untold stress to people, businesses … and economic hardship to people,” Mr Press said.

“Everyone ends up paying higher insurance premiums because of this type of offending.”

Aberdein pleaded guilty to six counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two stealing and one count each of supplying a dangerous drug, along with possessing property suspected of being proceeds of a drug offence, a dangerous drug, a drug utensil, property suspected used in a drug offence, attempt to enter a premise with intent to commit an indictable offence and breach a bail condition.

Mr Press took the six-days in watch-house custody into consideration, sentenced Aberdein to nine-months prison wholly suspended and operational for 18 months, plus placed him on a two-year probation order.