Clayton Vermast pleads guilty to drink driving crash, fraud

A Sunshine Coast scaffolder has admitted to a crime spree involving drink driving, evading police and selling his former flatmates’ property on social media.

Clayton Jack Vermast (not pictured) faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court by video from the watch-house on Wednesday. Picture: Patrick Woods

A Nambour scaffolder will have to wait two more months to be released from jail for a crime spree involving drink driving, evading police and stealing.

Clayton Jack Vermast, sporting a prominent black eye by video from the watch-house, entered guilty pleas to a list of offences in Maroochydore Magistrates Court after spending about three months in custody on remand.

Among the 35 charges, the 21-year-old admitted to nine counts of stealing, six of driving disqualified, two of police evasion, two of fraud and one of driving without due care and driving under the influence of liquor.

Police prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris said the “prolonged and persistent” spree ran from May to December last year.

Sergeant Grigoris said among his fuel drive offs and use of false number plates, Vermast was also involved in a dangerous crash with a light pole on Nicklin Way at Currimundi on May 18.

Clayton Jack Vermast. Picture: John McCutcheon

The court heard he later returned a reading of .152 and was driving disqualified at the time.

The Nambour man also admitted to a brazen burglary of his former housemates on June 25 last year, where he took an Xbox, DJ decks, a bluetooth speaker and sunglasses.

Sergeant Grigoris said the victims found no signs of a break in and reported the theft after spotting some of the items being advertised on Facebook Marketplace.

Vermast also evaded police on two separate occasions at Birtinya and Golden Beach in the space of eight days in October last year.

The court heard the first evasion occurred on October 19 where he accelerated heavily away from police along Kawana Way at Birtinya on October 19.

Sergeant Grigoris said police saw Vermast again on October 27 however he decided to speed away from them through the Golden Beach Tavern car park.

Defence solicitor Kristie Koo said the Townsville-born scaffolder admitted to being an alcoholic during his crime spree and drank up to 40 beers a week, with a minimum of 10 cans a day.

Ms Koo said Vermast wanted to attend alcohol courses once he left custody after staying sober while in jail.

Magistrate Rod Madsen jailed Vermast for 18 months and set his parole release date to May 11, taking into account the three months he served.

He was also disqualified from driving for three years.