Corey Michael Jessop-Warnes in Maroochydore court for driving offences

A father who threatened to have a police officer’s family shot has faced court for a crime spree where he took a $10,000 car for a test drive and never returned.

Corey Michael Jessop-Warnes. Picture: Facebook

A Sunshine Coast father who committed a string of offences involving dangerous driving and stealing a car says he has a “driving addiction”.

The court heard Corey Michael Jessop-Warnes, 23, saw an advertisement online for a $10,500 car on April 18, 2022.

Police prosecutor Allison Johnstone said Jessop-Warnes went to the woman’s house and took the car for a test drive.

“He ultimately never returned it,” Sergeant Johnstone said.

“He was interviewed and made full admissions, he said he planned to steal it as soon as he saw the ad online.”

Jessop-Warnes said the reason he stole the car was because he didn’t want to catch public transport anymore.

A few days prior, on April 14, Jessop-Warnes failed to stop at a random breath testing site and drove past at speed.

Sergeant Johnstone said a police officer was unable to step away in time and Jessop-Warnes’ car mirror struck a wand the officer was holding.

The wand was struck with such force that it caused the mirror to break and the plastic and glass fell to the road.

Sergeant Johnstone told the court the officer received cuts and bruising to his hand.

“That would’ve been a scary situation for that officer,” she said.

The court heard Jessop-Warnes had never held a driver’s licence and was disqualified when he evaded police on several occasions.

On one occasion, Jessop-Warnes narrowly missed pedestrians to avoid police.

While in custody he also made a threat of violence to an officer, saying that people he knew with significant criminal histories would come and get his family shot.

Jessop-Warnes said the officer’s family better watch out, called him a “c–k head” and said he knew where the officer lived.

“The officer took those threats as being serious, intentional and specifically targeted at him with the purpose of intimidating him,” Sergeant Johnstone said.

Defence solicitor Rod Morgan said his client had significant mental health issues including FASD and also had ADHD.

Mr Morgan said Jessop-Warnes was abandoned by his mother at a young age and his grandmother took on his care until he was 14.

Jessop-Warnes had worked at a ginger factory and in furniture restoration, the court heard.

“He is motivated not to spend the rest of his life in prison,” Mr Morgan said.

“He knows significant changes need to happen.”

The court heard Jessop-Warnes didn’t have substance abuse issues but rather an addiction to driving.

Magistrate Raelene Ellis sentenced the 23-year-old father to 2.5 years’ prison with a parole release date of May 22, 2023.

Ms Ellis declared the 104 days of presentence custody as time already served.

Jessop-Warnes pleaded guilty to evading police, dangerous operation of a vehicle, driving disqualified, failing to stop, unlawfully using vehicle and threats.

Originally published as Corey Michael Jessop-Warnes in Maroochydore court for driving offences