Bruce Lehrmann hits back at car theft allegations

Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has faced court accused of stealing a woman’s silver Toyota Prado.

Bruce Lehrmann will defend allegations that he stole a silver Toyota Prado, claiming he was given permission to use it during a “working bee” before refuelling and dropping it back at the owner’s property.

Lehrmann, 29, appeared in Hobart Magistrate’s Court on Monday accused of stealing a 4WD belonging to Gail Denise Oates, worth up to $100,000, from a Mountain River property on November 20.

He was arrested, charged with theft, and granted bail on December 2.

Former parliamentary staffer Bruce Lehrmann is pictured outside Toowoomba Magistrates Court. Picture: NewsWire

Gail Denise Oates alleges Bruce Lehrmann stole her silver Toyota Prado from a property in Tasmania in November

However, sources close to Lehrmann told this masthead the former political staffer was confused by the charge, claiming a male relative of Ms Oates gave Lehrmann verbal permission to use the vehicle for a few hours.

At the time, Lehrmann was part of a community working bee doing general maintenance on a property owned by Ms Oates’ neighbour.

The source also claimed Ms Oates made the police complaint weeks after he used the vehicle, and that it was sitting in her driveway by the time Lehrmann was charged.

“She complained weeks after the fact and the car was borrowed for half a day and returned with a full tank of fuel,” they said.

They also explained locals in the area often help each other tend to farms and large properties.

Lehrmann was represented in court by his Sydney-based lawyer, Zali Burrows. The matter was adjourned to June 19.

It is understood Ms Burrows will seek to have the charge dropped or dealt with outside court prior to the next mention.

Bruce Lehrmann has been accused of stealing a Toyota Prado in Tasmania. Picture: Liam Mendes

Lehrmann has been living in Tasmania since his defamation trial in Sydney’s Federal Court collapsed last year.

He had launched defamation proceedings against Channel 10 and TV host Lisa Wilkinson over an episode of The Project in 2021, during which Brittany Higgins alleged he raped her in Parliament House two year prior.

Lehrmann has always maintained his innocence, but last year Federal Court Justice Michael Lee found, on a balance of probabilities, that he had likely raped Ms Higgins.

His appeal, also led by Ms Burrows, will be heard in Sydney’s Federal Court later this year.

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