Pine Rivers addict caught with luxury car and diamond jewellery

“Time is running out” for opioid addict found with stolen BMW outside Eatons Hill Hotel.

Time is running out for a 28-year-old Pine Rivers man Andrew Michael Daniell to rehabilitate from a life of opioid addiction and crime, after he was discovered in possession of a stolen luxury car at the Eatons Hill Hotel.

The man, who appeared at the Pine Rivers Magistrates Court via video link from the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre on Thursday, stands out in a crowd due to the large tattoo of a gun over his left eyebrow and a missing chunk of muscle in his leg that was eaten away during an overdose.

Andrew Michael Daniell has struggled with an opioid addiction for some time.

The court heard he’d recently relapsed into drug use and committed a series of offences across Brisbane’s north.

He pleaded guilty to 12 charges including multiple counts of fraud, two counts of possessing a knife and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

According to police prosecutor sergeant Graham Turner, the crime spree began on June 4 when Daniell drove a Holden Barina while under the influence of drugs.

He attracted police attention twice more on June 16, at Arundel St at Alexandra Hills, and August 22, at the Ferny Grove Tavern, for being in possession of a knife in a public place.

The court heard the most serious of the charges, however, occurred at Salisbury on October 17 when a BMW was stolen from outside a mechanics workshop.

Daniell appeared at the Pine Rivers courthouse on Thursday.

Sgt Turner said a witness saw a male start the vehicle and drive away with it.

Daniell was sighted by police in close proximity to the incident but was not connected with the crime until early the next morning, when he was seen “acting suspiciously” in the carpark of the Eatons Hill Hotel.

Police attended to find the stolen BMW parked and unattended.

The engine was still warm.

Daniell was located outside the entrance to the hotel and arrested, while the car keys were later found wedged between cushions on an outdoor lounge.

Daniell, and the stolen car, were discovered outside the Eatons Hill Hotel.

Daniell told police he was given the car by a friend, who had purchased it for $50,000.

Police also located several items that had been taken from inside the vehicle, including a gold and diamond bracelet, a driver’s license and Lyrica tablets, typically used to treat epilepsy.

Further investigation and CCTV footage revealed a credit card that had been inside the BMW, had been used by Daniell to purchase pizza in Woolloongabba, cab fare and items from the 7 Eleven at Beenleigh, totalling $73.96.

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Daniell has served 144 days in custody since his arrest and during that time has been assaulted three times and needed stitches once, according to his lawyer, Kate Fuller from Fuller and White Solicitors.

Magistrate Trevor Morgan noted Daniell was on probation when he conducted some of the offences, indicating the community based order was “obviously a waste of time”.

“Your chances of rehabilitation are diminishing,” Mr Morgan told Daniell.

“Time is very substantially running out – You’re now a mature person and you’ve been in custody and sentenced to many terms of imprisonment before.”

Daniell was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, fined $2000 and disqualified from driving for 18 months.

Convictions were recorded and he will be eligible for parole on April 20.