Benjamin Joel Henderson jailed for causing Mooloolah Valley crash, leaving the scene

A court has heard how a man adorned with tattoos believed he was driving a hire car when he caused a dangerous collision in the Sunshine Coast hinterland before fleeing the scene.

Benjamin Joel Henderson appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court by video from custody on Friday last week. Picture: Facebook

A heavily tattooed man has received more jail time after fleeing the scene of a dangerous crash in a stolen vehicle at Mooloolah Valley.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard last week however that Benjamin Joel Henderson was in fact trying to be on the straight and narrow when he found himself in the “tainted” vehicle, which he thought was a hire car.

Defence solicitor Donna Hanslow-Hastie said the 28-year-old was “ironically ... doing the right thing” on September 3 last year where he was with a friend who “hired the car” or “so [Henderson] thought”.

Ms Hanslow-Hastie said the pair were “living their lives” and fishing when a friend asked Henderson’s mate to meet up.

His lawyer said the mate left the Caboolture man, however texted the 28-year-old shortly after to ask if he could drive the vehicle and meet them at a certain destination.

Henderson agreed and left, where he would later pull into a service station to fill up when Ms Hanslow-Hastie said the “facts ensued”.

Henderson pleaded guilty to both charges. Picture: Facebook

Police previously stated emergency services were called to a three-vehicle crash about 2.30pm at Mooloolah Valley, where Henderson crashed into two cars before fleeing the scene in the stolen Audi A3.

A 46-year-old Mooloolah Valley woman who was driving a black Haval in the crash was taken to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital with chest injuries while the driver of a white Subaru Impreza, a 47-year-old Eudlo woman, was not injured.

The court heard the Caboolture man was on parole at the time and still had his GPS tracker attached to his ankle.

He was arrested shortly after and spent 143 days in custody on remand.

Henderson appeared in court by video on Friday where he pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and failing to stop at the scene of a crash, while a charge of unlawful use of a motor vehicle was dropped.

Police prosecutor Nick Nitschke said the incident was very serious in nature due to the speed Henderson was travelling which caused a series of crashes.

Henderson will be in custody until next year. Picture: Facebook

Sergeant Nitschke said the damage involved was significant along with the injuries suffered by the 46-year-old Mooloolah Valley woman.

There was no victim impact statement before the court however the police prosecutor said a medical report stated the victim had ongoing pain and suffering due to the crash.

Ms Hanslow-Hastie said the bulk of the 28-year-old’s criminal history was attributed to an ongoing drug addiction which he was receiving treatment for while on parole.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist said it was one thing to say Henderson did not know the car was “tainted” or stolen, however to drive in the way he did, “endangering the safety and welfare of other people on the road”, meant he would not dish out a suspended sentence.

Mr Stjernqvist said Henderson was “pretty familiar” with the court process, but wanted to emphasise the public needed protection from the 28-year-old.

The Caboolture man was jailed for 18 months’, and disqualified from driving for six months.

Immediate parole eligibility was set for Friday however this did not mean much as Henderson was not being released from prison until 2026 due to another sentence.