21-year-old Alexandra Hills man allegedly steals victim’s car during road rage incident

A first taste of “big boys’ prison” had a 21-year-old alleged car thief desperate for bail as prosecutors warned his “very serious” charges included allegedly ramming vehicles with innocent bystanders.

A 21-year-old man charged with stealing multiple vehicles, one of which was tracked by a POLAIR helicopter, told a court he was willing to abide by any reporting commitments in a bid for bail after “getting his first taste of big boys’ prison”.

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Despite having no previous criminal history the charges against Jack Whitehead were so “very serious” he was kept in remand when he appeared at the Cleveland Magistrates Court on October 8.

The court was told “the sheer quantum” of serious charges – which included one count of robbery with violence and multiple counts of unlawful use of a vehicle and wilful damage among others – faced by the Alexandra Hills painter and decorator meant he posed too great a risk for release on bail.

The court heard on June 6 Whitehead and another man were allegedly recorded by a POLAIR helicopter as they raced from Southport to an underground parking area in Surfers’ Paradise in a bid to escape their aerial pursuit.

The allegedly stolen Holden Captiva was eventually found by police, who the court heard, discovered six grams of crystal remnants inside it.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Angela Tetley said the defendant’s alleged offending had become “very serious” and included ramming other vehicles with innocent bystanders.

The court further heard in another incident Whitehead allegedly punched a driver of a vehicle through his window, stole his keys and subsequently his vehicle.

However, magistrate Deborah Vasta said the incident did not seem “particularly premeditated” and had resulted from a road rage exchange between the alleged victim and Whitehead, who she said was “not a massively big guy” at 171cm tall.

Defence solicitor Tania Lacy said her client was extremely remorseful, had injured himself in a workplace incident in January and had employment waiting for him upon his release.

A desperate looking Whitehead told the court he was “very sorry” and “I am willing to do whatever” for bail.

All of which did little to dissuade magistrate Vasta who warned the young man that “you are starting to dig yourself a very big hole”.

Whitehead was kept in remand and is scheduled to next appear at the court on October 14.