Brock Aiden Dornbusch: Oakey teen Brock Dornbusch facing property crimes released on bail

A young man accused of a spate of vehicle thefts across the Darling Downs has been released with strict bail conditions, including a curfew. Here’s why.

The tragic backstory of a young man accused of a spate of vehicle thefts has been revealed in court as a magistrate granted him bail.

Brock Aiden Dornbusch was released from custody after he had spent two nights in the Toowoomba Watch House as police finalised more than 40 charges against him.

They include six counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, nine counts of entering a premises, four counts of receiving tainted property and one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, among other offences.

The alleged offences date from September to November and relate to cars stolen from homes in Toowoomba, Oakey and Gowrie Junction.

The 18-year-old faced court via watch house video link on Thursday to plead guilty to seven counts of failing to appear in court and to apply for bail on the remaining charges.

Police prosecutor Cameron Frances told the court police went to Dornbusch’s Ramsay Street home in Oakey on Tuesday and found him asleep in his bed.

When asked why he failed to appear, Dornbusch said neither he nor his father had a phone and he lost track of his court obligation.

The court heard Dornbusch attempted to contact the Oakey Police Station but it was closed, so he went home and waited for police to pick him up.

In sentencing, Magistrate Kay Ryan noted the two nights spent in the watch house and strong possibility that Dornbusch would face further penalties when his remaining charges were dealt with so he was convicted and not further punished.

The court heard some of Dornbusch’s recent offending had occurred while he was on bail and as a result his lawyer had to argue for his release on bail.

Defence solicitor Julia Malloy told the court that Dornbusch had a traumatic upbringing having witnessed his mother’s death when he was nine years old.

Ms Malloy told the court that her client did not dispute the charges and conceded that the crown case against him was strong but she anticipated a long period of case conferencing as the police were still waiting on DNA evidence.

“He is unlikely to receive a custodial sentence,” she said

“He is at risk of spending a long period of time for someone so young if your honour was to deny bail today.”

Ms Ryan granted Dornbusch’s bail albeit with a curfew and strict reporting conditions after noting factors including his young age and his learning difficulties.

They include reporting to police three times a week and abiding by a curfew from 9pm-6am every night

Dornbusch will return to the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on December 3.

Originally published as Brock Aiden Dornbusch: Oakey teen Brock Dornbusch facing property crimes released on bail