Trini Dethierry, 19, sentenced for three-month crime spree

A young man who turned to drugs and alcohol after the crash death of his close childhood friend in a stolen car has appeared for sentencing in the Cairns Magistrates Court for break-ins, and being in stolen vehicles.

A young man who turned to drugs and alcohol after the creash death of his close childhood friend in a stolen car, has appeared for sentencing in Cairns Magistrates Court for break-ins, and being in stolen vehicles. Picture: Brendan Radke.

A teen who turned to drugs and alcohol after his childhood friend died in a stolen car crash, has been sentenced for being in a stolen vehicle himself.

Trini George Dethierry, 19, pleaded guilty in Cairns Magistrates Court to 16 charges, including unlawful use of motor vehicles, wilful damage, theft, and break and enter charges on May 8.

Police prosecutor David Epstein told the court Dethierry had a criminal history with similar offending.

Defence counsel Ken Cuthbertson said Dethierry had a disadvantaged childhood and issues with alcohol and drugs, including methylamphetamine.

He said the teen was left significantly traumatised by the death of a close childhood friend, which contributed to his substance abuse.

Police prosecutor David Epstein told the court Dethierry had a criminal history with similar offending. Photo: Generic

“It was a very sad death where a young homeless lad was in a stolen car that was in a very serious car accident which received a lot of media attention because the young boy died,” Mr Cuthbertson said.

“Other young offenders were seriously injured.

“It was in a stolen car being pursued by police.

“He was very close to the young man and he struggles with that and he has himself identified that it led to increases in his substance use as he struggled to come to terms with it.”

He said the offending was “persistent, determined, and brutish”, but it was “unsophisticated and opportunistic”.

A young man who turned to drugs and alcohol after the creash death of his close childhood friend in a stolen car, has appeared for sentencing in Cairns Magistrates Court for break-ins, and being in stolen vehicles. Picture: Brendan Radke. Picture: Brendan Radke.

“There is a complete lack of respect for people’s property and premises when he is breaking in using whatever he can find to smash open doors,” Mr Cuthbertson said.

“That is consistent with his young age. He is still an immature person.

“There is a risk of him becoming institutionalised at a young age. I would support keeping alive the hopes for him to be rehabilitated. There is still plenty of time for him to grow out of this.”

He said he had acknowledged that he did not want to hang around certain people anymore and he wished to change his circumstances as he was soon to have a child and wanted to be able to support his partner and child.

“It was difficult to understand why, with the effect that passing is having on you, you would put yourself in circumstances where you would be unlawfully using a motor vehicle,” Magistrate Scott Luxton said.

Dethierry was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, with a parole eligibility date of September 1.

Originally published as Trini Dethierry, 19, sentenced for three-month crime spree