Devontae Simpson jailed for crime spree in Brisbane, Sunshine Coast

A teenager on a crime spree of driving in stolen luxury cars taken from upmarket Brisbane suburbs has been foiled in the act during a brave citizen’s arrest on the Sunshine Coast.

Devontae Simpson faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday by video from jail. Picture: Facebook

A court has heard how a teenager’s drug hazed crime spree which involved driving stolen luxury vehicles came to a grinding halt following a brave citizen’s arrest on the Sunshine Coast.

The heroics of a Sippy Downs resident were retold in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday after Devontae Simpson pleaded guilty to more than 30 charges.

With charges ranging from burglaries, a serious assault, dangerous operation of a car and multiple counts of unlawful use of motor vehicles, police prosecutor Shane Raison said the Caboolture teen operated under one philosophy during his two week crime spree.

“What’s mine is mine, and what’s yours is mine,” Senior Sergeant Raison said of Simpson.

“If criminal offending were a class, this defendant as a 19-year-old, would go straight to the head of it.”

The court heard his spree began after he slapped someone and took their electric scooter at the Taigum shopping centre in north Brisbane on January 26.

Senior Sergeant Raison said Simpson was seen arriving at The Oaks Hotel at Queen St in Brisbane on February 1 while in a stolen Kia Stinger.

Simpson pleaded guilty to multiple charges in court. Picture: Patrick Woods

He was also found with small amounts of marijuana and meth.

The court was told in the days leading up to February 17, Simpson was depicted in mobile phone videos driving in several luxury vehicles which were stolen from several wealthy Brisbane suburbs.

Senior Sergeant Raison said this included a white Porsche taken from Ashgrove, a black BMW from Auchenflower, an Audi from Virginia, a Jeep from Bardon and finally a Mercedes from Clayfield.

The police prosecutor said the Caboolture man’s offending came to a head on February 17 when Simpson decided to burgle the wrong home at Sippy Downs.

Simpson entered the property about 10.15pm and stole the keys to a Toyota LandCruiser ute parked in the driveway.

The victim heard the car start as the teenager reversed out of the driveway.

Senior Sergeant Raison said the heroic resident jumped into the passenger side of the car and pulled the handbrake to stop Simpson, however the 19-year-old continued to reverse at speed into a fence while the victim was in the car.

Simpson appeared in court via video. Picture: Facebook

The teenager fled from the car however the victim chased and tackled him. A struggled ensued, with the Sippy Downs resident suffering lacerations to his arm and knee.

Thankfully other neighbours intervened after the victim dragged Simpson to his home until police arrived.

The court heard of other offences which included unlawfully entering more cars in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast and being found with stolen property.

The police prosecutor said Simpson has been in custody for almost seven months since February 18, when he appeared in court by video from jail on Tuesday.

Senior Sergeant Raison said Simpson’s crimes were offences of “greed, not of need” and pushed for more jail time, as these offences were committed while the 19-year-old was on parole.

Defence lawyer Cherise Breese said Simpson came from a prejudicial childhood, where he was homeless at a young age. He then fell into a life of drugs with no family support.

Ms Breese said the young father’s life was littered with trauma, and suffered from depression prior to his offending and turned to drugs.

She was instructed the 19-year-old described his offending as “stupid and dumb” and wanted to turn his life around by working in hospitality or kitchen work after his release.

Simpson was jailed for 15 months, with a parole eligibility set at January 3, 2025.

Originally published as Devontae Simpson jailed for crime spree in Brisbane, Sunshine Coast