Jessie Lee Vernone Warne sentenced in Townsville District Court after stealing woman’s phone at Reid Park during emergency

A bystander who helped a woman call emergency services as her child lost consciousness in a Townsville park fronted court after he stole and held her phone for ransom.

Jessie Lee Vernone Warne sentenced in Townsville District Court after stealing woman’s phone at Reid Park during emergency Picture: istock

A man who seemingly helped a mother call triple-0 after her child lost consciousness in a park, was arrested after he stole her phone while she rode away in an ambulance with her kid, then demanded money for it back.

Jessie Lee Vernone Warne appeared in Townsville District Court on Thursday after he held a woman’s mobile for ransom while on probation for committing armed robbery.

Crown prosecutor Thomasina Papadimitriou told the court that on June 4 last year at Reid Park in Townsville, the mother had been with her two year old son playing when he fell, hit his head and lost consciousness.

Warne was at the park with others, and the mother who originally called triple-0 herself on a newly-purchased mobile phone she intended to give her husband, ended up passing the phone to Warne to continue speaking with emergency services as she tended to her son.

“She left in the ambulance with her child and left the phone at the park,” the court was told.

The mother realised the following day and texted the mobile using her own phone, when the 23-year-old replied and demanded she pay him $300 for it back.

The court was told the mother warned him “don’t play around”.

However, as Ms Papadimitriou explained, the woman went to police and made a deal with Warne to meet him at the Coles car park in North Ward to exchange payment for the phone.

Townsville police intercepted the man on the day of the proposed arrangement and arrested him.

Emergency Ambulance.

Furthermore he claimed to police he was the one to give the woman’s son CPR at the park the day prior, which was simply not true according to the crown.

“He took advantage of the woman who was vulnerable, who had her son lose consciousness in the presence of him, so he knew what occurred,” Ms Papadimitriou said.

Defence barrister Ross Malcomson who was instructed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Legal Services said the main reason behind the offending was drugs.

“He was affected by methamphetamine the proceeding day and was affected when he made requests with respect to the money for the phone,” Mr Malcomson said.

“It was an attempt to obtain money to support his drug habit and that alone is the context for the offending.

“He had a very dysfunctional childhood.”

Judge Suzanne Sheridan highlighted the man’s extensive efforts to engage in drug rehabilitation programs since being in jail, and took into account the 191 days he had served in the lead up to his sentence.

Warne pleaded guilty to extortion and stealing.

He was sentenced to 18 months’ jail, with an immediate parole eligibility date, Judge Sheridan declared the 191 days spent in pre-sentence custody as time served.

Originally published as Jessie Lee Vernone Warne sentenced in Townsville District Court after stealing woman’s phone at Reid Park during emergency