Lachlan James Kelly faces Warwick Magistrates Court after stealing dozens of free washes at parent’s former car wash

A Warwick man has been rinsed in court over a sudsy affair that involved the 30-year-old stealing from a car wash formerly owned by his parents. DETAILS HERE.

Lachlan James Kelly pleaded guilty to stealing more than $1000 from his parents’ former business on Condamine St. Photo: Google Maps.

A Warwick tiler has been rinsed in court after a dirty scheme to steal from his parents former business came out in the wash.

Lachlan James Kelly, 30, appeared in Warwick Magistrates Court after his months’ long offending spree came to an end.

The court was told Kelly used his position as a former employee of Soapy's Car Wash on Condamine St to commit the offending, Senior Constable Paul Condon said.

From October 7, 2023 to May 29, 2024, Kelly used a card and fob to “fraudulently use the amount of $1027 at the car wash,” the police prosecutor detailed.

The court was told the business was formerly owned by his parents, and he would use the self-service bays, vacuums and vending machines without using his own money.

Kelly was made to come clean after CCTV caught his dirty deeds.

Defence lawyer Clare Hine said the former SOTE student found it hard to establish a career after studying graphic design at university.

Ms Hine said Kelly had stopped working at the car wash in April of last year, months before the offending period began.

“He says the fob was originally given to him by his parents, he lost it and then came across it again, before making the decision to use it on a regular basis,” Ms Hine said.

Kelly completed roughly 30 transactions to wash and vacuum his car, which was about $34 per week.

“He is remorseful and embarrassed,” Ms Hine told the court.

Kelly pleaded guilty to one charge of stealing on August 12.

Magistrate Janice Crawford called the offending not a single event but conduct over a period of time, although “relatively low level”.

“Take this as a real opportunity to get clear of all this,” the magistrate said.

Kelly was slapped with a $1000 fine, and ordered to repay a restitution amount of $1027 to the business.

No convictions were recorded.