Noah Pehi sentenced for crime spree in Maroochydore Magistrates Court

A Sunshine Coast teenager has been released from jail for his drug fuelled run of crimes where he broke into homes, received stolen Christmas presents and drove pilfered cars.

Noah Tipene Zion Pehi appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court by video from jail on Tuesday. Picture: David Clark

An expecting Sunshine Coast dad has been freed from custody after committing more than 30 offences while on a meth spiral.

Acting magistrate Michael Bice told Noah Tipene Zion Pehi, 19, that “crime doesn’t pay” during his sentence for a flurry of break ins, vehicle thefts and fraudulent transactions.

Court documents before Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday revealed the Nambour man’s 32 charges stretched for several months across suburbs including Peregian Springs, Noosaville, Nambour and Bli Bli.

The 19-year-old pleaded guilty to all charges in court which included more than a dozen counts of fraud, two of unlawful use of motor vehicles and other charges including entering a dwelling and stealing.

Police say Pehi made multiple fraudulent transactions with stolen bank cards, drove a stolen Toyota Aurion and Mazda CX5, pilfered fuel and received tainted property such as jewellery, bank cards and Christmas presents.

The court heard the teenager was also found with ammunition and a syringe.

Police prosecutor Stu Lydford said the offences only stopped when Pehi was remanded in custody.

Sergeant Lydford said the crimes of entering homes and fraudulently using stolen credit cards were prevalent in the community.

Noah Tipene Zion Pehi. Picture: Facebook

He said Pehi needed to be deterred from property offending where he would attend people’s homes and break into and steal cars.

The court heard Pehi had been in custody for 182 days on remand.

Defence lawyer Rod Morgan said the NDIS supported teenager suffers from autism and an intellectual impairment.

Mr Morgan said Pehi was 18-years-old at the time and used ice during the offending with his young mates. His stint in jail for the past six months was Pehi’s first time in custody. He said Pehi used this time to clear his head.

The court heard Pehi’s girlfriend was six months’ pregnant, with the Nambour man hoping to establish a relationship again with her and his child.

Pehi’s lawyer said the teenager was also developing strategies to deal with his difficult behaviour to stop his offending and drug use.

Acting magistrate Michael Bice said it was “very disappointing” how long the offending went on for but accepted Pehi had a future and had support around him to help him move forward.

“Committing crime does not pay on any basis,” Mr Bice said.

Pehi was sentenced to 15 months’ jail, with a parole release date of Tuesday.