Beenleigh’s Morrice Michael Spencer, 18, sentenced for ‘extremely distressing’ stolen car spree

A Logan teen who left a string of residents more than $120,000 worse off after an “extremely significant” stolen car spree will not repay a single dollar despite the horrendous damage he caused.

An 18-year-old who helped steal numerous luxury cars and caused more than $120,000 damage has walked free without having to pay his victims a cent after spending three months in “adult jail”.

The prosecution urged that the uninsured victims, at the least, be awarded restitution.

However, acting magistrate Mark Howden said victims could pursue the young man in civil courts and awarding restitution would make his sentence “crushing”.

Morrice Michael Spencer, of Beenleigh, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Thursday (June 30) to 24 charges.

They included six counts of unlawfully using vehicles and seven counts of burglary and attempted burglaries.

The court heard between October, 2021 and February this year, Spencer and his co-offenders broke into numerous homes, making off with a string of prestige cars and causing significant damage.

A Porsche Macan was among the vehicles Spencer targeted. File photo

The total loss to victims was $121,000, but did not include all items stolen and damaged.

On October 10 Spencer drove in a stolen Porsche Macan SUV. Twelve days later, on October 22, he stole the keys to a BMW X5 SUV worth $141,000 from a Hollywell home and used it illegally.

And on November 1 he was seen jumping a fence where a stolen Audi Q5 SUV was located.

The court heard significant damage was caused to the cars.

Some $18,000 damage was caused to a Mercedes Benz, $17,400 damage to an Audi and $36,000 damage to another vehicle.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Karine Evans asked for an 18-month jail sentence because of the “extremely significant” losses, despite Spencer having no other adult criminal history.

Defence solicitor Bruce Affleck said his client had been living hand-to-mouth with very little family support.

He had caved in to peer pressure and drug abuse at the time of his offending.

The court further heard Spencer came off a meth addiction, which began when he was only 16, while serving 97 days in pre-sentence custody in “adult jail”.

Spencer illegally used a BMW X5. File photo.

In sentencing, Mr Howden acknowledged the community was “extremely distressed” by the type of offending Spencer had committed and called it “extremely serious”.

“You are on a very slippery slope,” he told Spencer.

“You are looking at spending significant periods of your youth behind bars.”

The 97 days in pre-sentence custody was deemed time served.

He sentenced Spencer to 12 months’ prison, with immediate parole release.

Spencer was further disqualified from driving for two years. It was noted he had never held a licence.

Convictions were recorded.

But Mr Howden denied the prosecution’s request that Spencer be ordered to pay $1,558 in compensation to two uninsured victims.