Bryce Heins: Seaford thief stole mate’s ute after tomahawk threat
After coming out of jail for car theft crimes, a Seaford 23-year-old lapsed back into drug use, this time turning on his own mate.
South East
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A car thief who threatened a mate with a tomahawk and nicked his expensive ute in a drug-fuelled dispute over money had only been out of jail a few weeks when he went on another crime spree.
Bryce Heins also used stolen credit cards to buy food, drink and fuel, and committed a variety of driving offences even though he has never held a licence.
The Seaford 23-year-old pleaded guilty to theft, assault, using stolen goods and driving-related charges at the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
The court heard at 9pm on January 29 this year Heins went to see a mate in Seaford to ask to borrow his snazzy Ford Ranger ute.
The pal refused, but Heins found the keys, hid them in his pocket and sent everyone on a wild-goose chase to try and find them.
He then walked over to the ute and said he was taking the vehicle whether his mate liked it or not.
He started brandishing a tomahawk, holding it over his head in a threatening manner towards his mate, saying “don’t call the coppers or else”, before driving off in the nicked motor.
Over the next two days his pal pleaded via text messages for the return of his ride, before realising that wasn’t going to happen and calling the police.
At 7am on January 31 he found his ute around 200m from Heins’ Seaford home, with police later finding the keys in his bedroom.
They also found stolen bank and Medicare cards from various people which had been used in a petrol drive off in Seaford and for food purchases at 7-Elevens, McDonald’s and Hungry Jacks in Frankston and Carrum Downs.
When Heins was arrested he denied raising the tomahawk above his head and said he had “found” the cards in a hotel carpark.
He admitted stealing the ute, saying he had “only borrowed it”, but couldn’t say why the victim didn’t think that was the case.
Heins had only been released from jail at the end of November last year for other dishonesty-related offending, and was meant to be doing a community corrections order at the time.
His defence lawyer said there was a “personal” background to this car theft involving money, and he had taken the vehicle “out of spite”.
She said her client had “issues with his impulse control” and relapsed into drug use.
She said he was now motivated to remain abstinent and settle down with his partner and her children.
Magistrate Dr Michael King said a combination prison term and corrections order would likely be imposed if Heins could show him he had a plan to get off drugs and stop committing crimes.
“Picture what you want your life to be like, a vision in your mind,” Dr King said.
“There are far better things for you than for you to spend your life in and out of jail.”
Heins was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on May 18.
