Brisbane flood looters sentenced after Rocklea auto parts theft

A magistrate has slammed the “despicable” actions of a Brisbane flood looter – who turned up to court with a prime minister’s reference. SEE VIDEO

A successful businessman who “took advantage of the misery of others” by stealing during Brisbane’s catastrophic floods has appeared in court with a prime minister’s character reference.

Church members Dion Kingi Paul, 63, and his stepson Ryan Dawson Taurima, today pleaded guilty to one count each of stealing by looting from Brisbane Auto Wreckers during a natural disaster.

Brisbane Magistrates Court heard the Rocklea wreckers was flooded during Brisbane’s record drenching in February causing a large quantity of wheels to float away from the Ipswich Rd business.

When the severe flooding subsided the wheels came to a rest on Ipswich Rd.

Sgt Scott Pearson said officers conducting patrols on March 1 intercepted two vehicles travelling the wrong way on an off ramp onto the Ipswich motorway at Rocklea which had been closed for roadworks.

Ryan Dawson Taurima (left) and Dion Kingi Paul leave Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday. Picture: John Gass/NCA NewsWire

Sgt Pearson said Paul was driving a Nissan Pathfinder filled with 57 wheels in a trailer, rear and front passenger seat.

Taurima was driving the other vehicle which contained no wheels.

The men told police they were intending to take the wheels to the tip by which they meant the scrap metal recycler.

The wheels were seized and returned to the wreckers.

Lawyer Sam Wildermuth said Paul was a grandfather to 13 children and had resided on the Gold Coast since 2011.

Born in NZ he served a two-year mission with the Mormon church in Sydney before going on to own successful business in his home country, Chile and now the Solomon Islands.

Mr Wildermuth tendered a character reference from Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, which spoke of Paul’s good character.

Wheels and tyres looted from a Rocklea business

On the day of the offending Paul, who has no criminal history, had attended a close friend’s funeral then received a call from Taurima asking him to bring his car because there were some wheels on the side of the road.

“He’s extremely remorseful, the offending is …entirely out of character,” he said.

Taurima’s lawyer Jaimee-Lee Jessop said her client’s offending while serious was a minor example of that type of offence.

“My client comes before the court today very remorseful, he is of course extremely embarrassed,” she said.

Ms Jessop said Taurima was involved with a church and volunteered his time with youth for which he held a Blue Card.

The court heard he had a very limited and irrelevant criminal history involving one offence from 2011 that did not end with a conviction.

“He is otherwise a productive member of society, he owns his own business in exportations,” she said.

Wheels and tyres looted from a Rocklea business

Magistrate Julian Noud said both men were equally culpable in “hatching a plan to take these wheels”.

“It goes without saying this is most despicable behaviour – taking advantage of the misery of others in times of tragedy such as this,” Mr Noud said.

“Quite frankly it is an affront to our shared community values and your offending must be denounced.”

However he accepted that given their history they were unlikely to appear before the court again.

“The references speak highly of you and again, just demonstrates how I guess your behaviour was, it seems, out of character,” he said.

“The material demonstrates I accept that you have good reputations it seems within your churches, and in the community more broadly.”

Each man was sentenced to perform 85 hours’ community service.

Convictions were not recorded.