Branyan man assaulted with his own golf clubs when restraining Dylan James McIlvaney

A Branyan man was assaulted with his own golf clubs during a dramatic citizen’s arrest outside a shopping centre of a thief who stole his HiLux.

Dylan James McIlvaney went on a week-long crime spree stealing cars in Brisbane and Bundaberg, culminating in the theft of a Toyota Hilux from the driveway of a home in Branyan.

A man’s own golf clubs were used against him when he confronted two men at a Bundaberg shopping centre car park over his stolen car, a court has heard.

Dylan James McIlvaney, pleaded guilty before Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Friday to multiple charges including unlawful use of a motor vehicle, stealing and break and enter.

Court documents show that McIlvaney, 29, went on a week-long crime spree stealing cars in Brisbane and Bundaberg, culminating in the theft of a Toyota HiLux from a Branyan home.

The victim had been taking his belongings from the car into his home and left his keys and wallet in the vehicle.

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A short time after the car was stolen, the victim received a phone call from a friend informing him that it was parked in the outdoors carpark at Sugarland Shopping Centre.

After going outside to confirm his car had been stolen, the victim checked his home CCTV recording to see a white Mitsubishi ASX parked in front of his house prior to his vehicle being stolen.

The victim went to the shopping centre with his son and a friend and saw McIlvaney walking away from a white Mitsubishi ASX towards the Toyota HiLux carrying a 10 pack of Jack Daniels.

McIlvaney had used the victim’s credit card to purchase tobacco and the alcohol.

When confronted McIlvaney admitted to stealing the car and tried to run away, but was restrained by the victim.

An unidentified associate of McIlvaney leapt out of the Mitsubishi ASX, grabbed a golf club from the back of the victim’s HiLux and attacked the group in an attempt to free McIlvaney.

The victim’s group was able to disarm the associate, after which he ran back to the Mitsubishi ASX and drove away, leaving McIlvaney in the hands of the victim.

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The victim then called police who attended the scene and arrested McIlvaney.

A week prior to stealing the HiLux, McIlvaney had broken into a home in Burleigh Heads and stolen car keys which he used to steal a Hyundai Kona.

McIlvaney refused to identify any of his associates, and admitted to using the drug ice in the morning before committing the offences.

The court heard that McIlvaney has an extensive criminal history reaching back to 2010, including various terms of imprisonment for offences for assault, car theft, shoplifting and possession of stolen property.

The court heard that McIlvaney, a Logan resident, had an extensive criminal history dating back to 2010.

“Do you like staying in prison?”, magistrate Athol Kennedy said.

“Employment has always been my best shot at staying out of prison,” McIlvaney responded, appearing via video link from Maryborough Correctional Centre.

“I accept that’s the case, but you stay out of prison by not reoffending, don’t you?” Mr Kennedy said.

“I understand, yes,” McIlvaney replied.

McIlvaney was convicted of three charges of unlawful use of motor vehicles and one charge of driving without a license, stealing, enter dwelling and commit an indictable offence, and receiving tainted property.

McIlvaney was given a head sentence of 18 months, with a parole release date of Monday, May 15.

Originally published as Branyan man assaulted with his own golf clubs when restraining Dylan James McIlvaney