Montel Lawton committed car crime in Gladstone while on bail

A young father who committed a car crime at Gladstone while on bail is now clean of meth, a court has been told.

Montel Thomas Lawton faced Gladstone Magistrates Court on numerous charges including unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

A young dad with a “significant history” of property offending started using illicit substances at age 14, a court has heard.

Appearing from custody, Montel Thomas Lawton, 23, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on March 15 to charges including unlawful use of a motor vehicle and 15 counts of breaching bail.

The court was told Lawton committed the motor vehicle offence in Gladstone on January 30 while he was on bail and also on a suspended sentence.

The court heard that Lawton had a “significant history” of property offending.

In relation to the unlawful use of motor vehicle offence, solicitor Bianca Wieland said it was not as serious as Lawton’s previous offending of this nature.

She said the car belonged to the girlfriend of one of Lawton’s friends.

“His (Lawton’s) friend had permission to drive the vehicle and then that permission was revoked - he (Lawton) didn’t realise that,” Ms Wieland said.

“His friend had asked him to drive the vehicle from his home to another spot and that’s the basis of the unlawful use.”

Ms Wieland said Lawton was a father who was “now clean” of methamphetamine, having started illicit substance use at age 14.

Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan noted Lawton spent 44 days in pre-sentence custody before sentencing him to four months’ jail with immediate parole.

Convictions were recorded.

Lawton was recommitted to the District Court in relation to the suspended sentence breach.

Originally published as Montel Lawton committed car crime in Gladstone while on bail