Bingle car thief still a mystery as police drop charges against boy

THE thief who stole Lara Bingle's $200,000 Aston Martin and took it on a joyride through Sydney's eastern suburbs is still at large.

THE thief who stole Lara Bingle's $200,000 Aston Martin and took it on a joyride through Sydney's eastern suburbs is still at large, with police yesterday withdrawing car theft charges against a 15-year-old boy.

The luxury vehicle was pinched from under Bingle's nose on December 29 last year, when the car was taken from the supposedly secure carpark below the Bondi apartment she once shared with her former fiance, Michael Clarke. Bingle was home at the time of the theft; Clarke was in Melbourne playing cricket.

Three weeks later, a 15-year-old youth was charged with stealing the car but those charges were withdrawn by police yesterday during a hearing at Bidura Children's Court in Sydney.

At the time of the boy's arrest, police alleged the spare keys to the Aston Martin were stolen from the glove box of Clarke's Land Rover, which was open in the Bondi garage. The youth's fingerprints were found on the gate of the apartment block and on the Land Rover. While car theft charges against the boy were dropped, he did plead guilty to breaking into the carpark of the Bondi unit and admitted to damaging property in the vicinity.

Another two charges were laid yesterday against the youth -- who cannot be named -- over an unrelated break and enter two days after the incident at Clarke's apartment block. A bail application made by the boy's lawyer, Ruth Chalmers, was rejected.

Bingle had been expected at yesterday's court hearing to give evidence in relation to the theft of the car but was not required as the charges were dropped.

However, her former fiance made his first public comments yesterday since the couple's bust-up when he held a press conference in Wellington ahead of his return to the cricket arena tomorrow. Clarke revealed that he had enjoyed the support of many friends during the past week, including Shane Warne.

"I have spoken to Warnie. He has been a wonderful friend of mine for a long time," Clarke said.

But the Australian vice-captain remained coy when asked whether he was still on speaking terms with Bingle. "I'm not going to comment on my personal life, I'm very sorry," Clarke said.

New Zealand's star batsman Ross Taylor yesterday welcomed Clarke back to the game, saying the Australian's personal life was no concern of the Black Caps.

"I can't help what the punters in the crowd say to him. But I don't think the team will be saying anything to him," Taylor said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: AAP