Rico Avery: Tabulam man sentenced to jail for joy-riding at Grafton Local Court

A teen dad and serial joy-rider has been taken to task for “infecting others with criminality” after a string of car thefts and social media posts bragging about his exploits.

Rico Avery was sentenced to a term of imprisonment at Grafton Local Court. Generic image.

A northern NSW teen dad has been slammed in court for leading other young people “along a criminal path of destruction” after he repeatedly stole cars and took selfies to brag about his exploits.

Rico Avery’s stint as a serial joy-rider came to an abrupt end, however, when he was busted abandoning a stolen jeep in Lismore.

Now Avery, 19, of Tabulam, 122km inland from Ballina, will spend up to one year behind bars after being sentenced for a series of wild and dangerous joy rides.

Avery fronted Grafton Local Court on Monday after pleading guilty to knowingly driving a stolen car and being in a stolen car.

Court documents state the young dad is a “habitual offender” who “drives cars loaded with accomplices and readily engages in extremely dangerous driving in order to get police to terminate pursuits”.

Break and enter generic. Picture: Stock

According to police facts, Avery’s most recent crime spree began in May last year when a group entered a Casino home and stole a wallet, laptop and two sets of car keys.

Avery was not charged with this break and enter, however, on May 27 he was with a group of people who put petrol in a car (a white Suzuki) and drove off without paying.

The next day police spotted the car outside South Grafton and pursued it until Eighteen Mile Creek.

Police found the white Suzuki abandoned Near Malabugilmah and were told four people had fled the scene.

Forensic evidence led officers to Avery who was arrested on July 6, 2023 and soon after granted bail.

Avery is charged with taking and driving stolen cars. File picture.

But the 19-year-old would again find himself in the crosshairs of police when he breached bail and was caught with another stolen car last September.

A group of unknown people stole a jeep from Yamba and Avery was soon after spotted driving this car with three friends along Woodlark St, Lismore.

After parking the car, the 19-year-old wiped down all the surfaces, a court heard.

“(He then) climbed onto the bonnet of the car taking a series of photos … (and) making gang hand gestures to the camera,” police state.

He was later arrested and denied bail.

Police facts described Avery as someone who “terrorises residents in their homes and steals their cars”.

“Not only does he not show any remorse for his actions, he is seen to take selfies, sending them to his friend group to brag about his exploits,” police state.

“(He) leads others along this criminal path of destruction … infecting them with his criminality.”

Avery was arrested at Tabulam. Generic image.

In court, defence lawyer Alexander Leal Smith said his client has shown insight into his offending.

The court also heard Avery had a difficult upbringing but was now eager to find employment and had a young child.

Magistrate Roger Prowse said imprisonment was the only option for the “planned, deliberate stealing of cars”.

Avery was convicted and sentenced to seven months behind bars with a 12 month non-parole period.

An appeal against the severity of the sentence has been lodged with Grafton District Court.