Toowoomba man Ethan John Dunemann, 18, applies for bail on car theft charges

An 18-year-old has denied stealing a car, despite police allegedly finding the man behind the wheel when he was arrested.

Photo: QPS.

A Toowoomba man has been linked to a serious car theft only one month after he was sentenced for a raft of other charges.

Ethan John Dunemann, 18, appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday to apply for bail after he was allegedly caught behind the wheel of a stolen car.

Police prosecutor Nicholas Pratt told the court police intercepted Mr Dunemann behind the wheel of a known stolen car and in possession of the car keys despite the fact the man was unlicensed due to a court order.

“Presumption of innocence will still apply here, the (police) affidavit reads that, at least with respect to the unlawful use of a motor vehicle, he was more or less caught red-handed,” Mr Pratt said.

Mr Pratt advised the court that Mr Dunemann was sentenced in September on charges including enter premises to commit an indictable offence by break, evasion, stealing, and multiple breaches of bail.

“He’s not in a show cause but in my submission he may as well be,” Mr Pratt said.

“The risk of committing further offences is patent.

“There will most likely be a restoration of his suspended sentence.”

Duty solicitor Ryan McCullough said Mr Dunemann’s time in custody had provided somewhat of a “crossroads” for the young man.

He said Mr Dunemann accepted parts of the police submissions but argued further incarceration would unduly prejudice him.

“Mr Dunemann accepts he was driving a car and he was disqualified at the time, he accepts that he ought to have known the car was stolen and accepts the unlawful use,” Mr McCullough said.

“He also accepts receiving tainted property in relation to the keys but he denies being involved in the theft proper of that vehicle.

“Without that enter premises charge, the overall criminality of this offending is greatly reduced … reduced to a point where Mr Dunemann would be extremely unlikely, in my submission, to receive a period of actual custody.”

Magistrate Michelle Dooley denied bail on the grounds of a strong police case.

“There is strong evidence with respect to elements of these charges,” she said.

“He was aware that he was in a serious situation and for him to elect to drive this vehicle it is absolutely astounding that he would make that decision.

“There is an unacceptable risk that, if he’s released on bail, he will commit further offences and he will endanger the safety and welfare of the public.”

Mr Dunemann is charged with driving without a licence as disqualified by a court order, enter premises and commit an indictable offence by break, receiving tainted property and unlawful use of motor vehicle.

Mr Dunemann is due back in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on November 21 for mention.

Originally published as Toowoomba man Ethan John Dunemann, 18, applies for bail on car theft charges