Man drove stolen vehicles for weeks while evading police

A TOOWOOMBA man who evaded police arrest for weeks while driving around in stolen vehicles has been let out of jail.

A TOOWOOMBA man who evaded police arrest for weeks while driving around in stolen vehicles has been let out of jail.

Jesse Lee Jenkins, 23, had been held in custody since his eventual arrest on a number of charges in December.

He appeared by video link from the Maryborough Correctional Centre to plead guilty before Toowoomba Magistrates Court to 15 charges, some dating back to April last year.

Those matters included the 23-year-old giving his brother's name to police after being pulled over driving a stolen Holden utility in Toowoomba on April 8, last year.

Later, when his brother contacted police to say Jenkins had used his name, police caught up with him charging Jesse Jenkins with driving with methylamphetamine in his system, disqualified driving and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He was also recognised by police on a number of occasions driving other vehicles, some stolen, in the Toowoomba area over the ensuing months but had usually successfully evaded police by driving on, the court heard.

In what police prosecutor Natalie Bugden described as his most serious offence, Jenkins with a co-offender had entered through the back door of an Underwood Crescent home on the morning of November 6 and stolen a gun safe containing eight rifles and ammunition.

The complainant's grandfather's irreplaceable war medals had also been stolen.

Five of the rifles and some ammunition had been recovered by police but three weapons remained outstanding, Senior Constable Bugden told the court.

Jenkins' fingerprints were found at the scene.

The co-offender had received six months jail for his part in the burglary, Snr Const. Bugden said.

Jenkins pleaded guilty to the burglary, three counts of disqualified driving, two of unlawfully using motor vehicles, drug driving, possessing small amounts of amphetamine and unlawfully possessing weapons and ammunition.

His solicitor Claire Graham told the court her client had been in custody since his arrest on December 17 which amounted to about six months and submitted he be released on immediate parole.

Magistrate Damian Carroll noted Jenkins had criminal history and what was further concerning was that at the time of most of the offences he was subject to a parole-board ordered parole order.

Jenkins also had an "appalling traffic history", Mr Carroll said.

It was also concerning that three stolen weapons remained out there in the community, potentially in the hands of people who shouldn't have them, he said.

However, taking into account the time served in custody, Mr Carroll sentenced Jenkins to 18 months in jail but ordered he be released on parole immediately.

Jenkins was disqualified from driving for three years.

Originally published as Man drove stolen vehicles for weeks while evading police