Bradley Ernest Hardy in court for stolen vehicle

A Sunshine Coast hinterland man has faced court for being in possession of a car which was stolen twice in one month.

Bradley Ernest Hardy at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday, February 13, 2023.

An Ilkley man has faced court for possession of a vehicle which was reported stolen twice within a month.

Bradley Ernest Hardy, 52, pleaded guilty at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday to one charge of unlawful possession of a vehicle.

Police prosecutor Brendan Newman said the owner of the vehicle reported it stolen on July 7, 2022, from an address in Clayfield before it was recovered by police in Palmwoods.

“While the victim was going to collect the vehicle it was unfortunately stolen again and re-reported,” Sergeant Newman said.

On August 4, 2022, police located the vehicle at a Nicklin Way address.

Sergeant Newman said Hardy had the keys to the vehicle in his pocket and “made some admissions to driving the vehicle there”.

Magistrate Matthew McLaughlin said he was “in the difficult position that I don’t know the full story”.

“You haven’t said anything, you are not obliged to say anything,” Mr McLaughlin said.

“So I don’t know whether you knew completely well the vehicle was stolen when you got it, or whether you paid something for it, paid a tiny amount that was too good to be true, or whether you paid a reasonable amount.

“What I do know is that by your plea of guilty, you are accepting that you did not come into the possession of the vehicle honestly.

“That is really the essence of your plea.”

Hardy has a five page criminal history and currently receives Centrelink.

“I haven’t been working for a while,” he said.

Mr McLaughlin said his history shows multiple convictions for unlawful use of motor vehicles.

“Three of them were hire cars, I think they were,” Hardy told the court.

Mr McLaughlin said it was irrelevant and he was “completely in the dark” about how Hardy came to be in possession of the vehicle for the current charge.

“You’re lucky you’re not facing a charge of unlawful use of a motor vehicle today because you would almost certainly be in line for a jail sentence.

“In other words, you ought to know better.”

Hardy is also due to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on March 27 in relation to other matters.

He was fined $800.

A conviction was recorded.