Howsam Harfouche in Heidelberg court for stealing Mercedes Benz

An unqualified mechanic broke into a Richmond home and stole a Mercedes Benz, changing the number plate with a blue pen.

Howsam Harfouche stole a Mercedes Benz.

An unqualified mechanic broke into a Richmond home and stole a Mercedes Benz, changing the number plate with a blue biro.

Howsam Harfouche pleaded guilty to theft of motor vehicle, driving while disqualified and committing an indictable offence on bail in the Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The court heard the 50-year-old stole a black Mercedes Benz after breaking into a Richmond apartment and fleeing with the keys and car in February last year.

A few months later, police spotted the car while patrolling in Reservoir and discovered Harfouche driving with two passengers.

Police noticed the letter C had been changed to ‘O’ by a blue pen.

They then discovered the unqualified mechanic had never held a license.

At the time, Harfouche said he had borrowed the car from a friend in prison.

Defence lawyer George Douglas said his client had 13 pages of prior criminal and driving offences.

“He’s done a lot — old driving offences, breaching an intervention order … his most recent offending is in June last year, which happened when he was on bail,” Mr Douglas said, asking Magistrate Samantha Poulter to consider a community correction order in sentencing.

He said Harfouche had a rough upbringing and was “troubled”.

“He can’t read or write — he came to Australia from Lebanon when he was three … his school was hell,” he said.

“I don’t want the court to give him a kiss on the cheek and send him off — I want him to get community service, that’s my thought.”

Mr Douglas told the court Harfouche worked as a mechanic but did not have a qualification and made $1000 a week while he lived with his mum, to whom he pays rent.

Ms Poulter said she was concerned by the car theft given the 50-year-old had never held a licence.

“You are getting a bit old for this stuff,” she said.

“You have family support who also rely on you. You are in a situation if you want to work, you need to get a licence.”

Harfouche was fined $1500 and had a conviction recorded.