Rodger Heley: Continues serial vehicle theft and use with months’ long drug-fuelled crime spree

“You are going to either die in jail or as a very sad old man”: A meth addict who tendered a character reference from a known drug supplier has been given a dire warning at court.

A 54-year-old New Zealand-born man with an “insidious” meth addiction who, a court heard, has been stealing vehicles in Qld for 16 years despite nearly being deported, has been left with a devastating warning after yet another crime-ridden joy ride.

Appearing via video link at Cleveland Magistrates Court on Friday (October 15) Coolum Beach man Rodger Heley merely agreed with Magistrate Deborah Vasta, when she gave it to him straight.

“You are going to either die in jail or as a very sad old man,” Magistrate Vasta said.

The warning came after the court heard Heley had spent 69 days in pre-sentence custody for yet more meth-fuelled crime sprees involving stolen vehicles; stolen keys; drug paraphernalia; stolen antiques and fraud.

Committed between October last year and August this year, his offending was characterised by Magistrate Vasta as having shown a “flagrant disregard” for the law while exhibiting “the height of arrogance”.

Heley today pleaded guilty to more than 20 charges including two counts of unlawfully using a vehicle; multiple frauds; entering a premises and committing an offence by breaking in; stealing; receiving tainted property and a host of others.

With a nine-page criminal and 15-page traffic history the Auckland-born, permanent resident of 28 years, had never held a driver’s licence and narrowly escaped deportation for his prolific criminal offending.

Heley’s only significant break in meth-fuelled offending since 1996, the court was told, occurred when he was confined to Christmas Island from 2014-2015.

The court heard on August 6 the defendant was captured on CCTV at an IGA on the D’Aguilar Highway when his girlfriend shoplifted goods.

Serial vehicle thief and meth addict Rodger Heley, 54, has been stealing cars for 16 years in Qld, according to a magistrate. Picture: Facebook.

A police prosecutor said footage showed Heley driving a stolen 1986 Porsche convertible with fake number plates.

On June 1 Heley received 30 stolen vehicle keys and was captured on CCTV driving two stolen vehicles, one of them a Holden Clubsport.

On April 12 at 11.20pm in Fortitude Valley Heley was found, according to police, with a bag full of stolen antique watches and souvenirs.

On February 27 a police search of his unit uncovered cannabis, a pipe and a bong.

On February 23 he made three fraudulent transactions with a credit card he had found.

And the court heard between October 31 and December 27 of last year he drove a stolen Ford ute from a Quest Apartment complex.

Much of the offending occurred while on bail for similar offending and came after “many, many” actual jail terms for similar offending.

Defence solicitor Jane Bruxner noted only one of her client’s offences occurred while on probation and attributed it to a decades long “insidious” meth addiction.

Ms Bruxner clarified that Heley, a qualified plumber, had escaped deportation as both his parents remain in NSW and he planned to reside in Ormiston upon his eventual release.

A personal reference tendered to the court from a long-time friend and former work colleague was rejected by the court, when the prosecution noticed it came from a convicted drug supplier.

It all left Magistrate Vasta nearly lost for words.

“I don’t think there is anything I can say to you that some other magistrate or judge hasn’t said to you since 1996.

“You have been stealing cars in Qld for 16 years.

“And to be driving up the Sunshine Coast in a stolen Porsche convertible with your girlfriend next to you, is just the height of arrogance.

“You have walked out of prison many, many times and walked straight back in.

“Are you 24 or 54? It (your offending) is so immature.”

Heley was sentenced to two years’ and seven months’ jail with an April 22 parole release date.

He was given a month of grace by Magistrate Vasta so that would not have to spend another May birthday locked up.

Heley was further sentenced to 12 months’ jail wholly suspended for two years, fined $300 and disqualified from driving for four years.