Troy Shields pleads guilty to crashing dodgy Facebook Marketplace car at Nambour

A Caboolture glazier has had a wet ending to his dodgy social media car deal after he crashed his newly bought vehicle into a creek bed in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Troy Gordon Shields faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court by video link from Woodford Prison on Friday. Picture: Facebook

A Caboolture glazier’s trip to buy a dodgy car from Facebook has had a soggy ending after he crashed his vehicle into a creek bed due to his “dangerous conduct”.

Witnesses told police they heard Troy Gordon Shields revving his newly bought pride and joy on February 21 along Image Flat Rd at Nambour before hearing two distinct separate bangs.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court was told it was the 34-year-old father sideswiping a parked car and crashing into a guardrail which caused his car to flip onto its roof into a creek bed.

Investigations revealed the car was uninsured, unregistered and had paper plates. Shields also held no licence at the time, with tests later showing positive signs for meth, alcohol and amphetamine in his system.

Shields pleaded guilty to all charges. Picture: Facebook

Acting Magistrate Anna Smith said police determined Shields lost control of his car as he “hit the lip” of a roundabout, with skid marks uncovered in the lead-up to the scene.

Ms Smith said the car also had a modified muffler, which accounted for the loud noises witnesses heard before the crash.

The court heard Shields failed to give his particulars to police on March 1, and was later taken into custody and spent 111 days in custody up until his sentence on Friday, where he pleaded guilty to eight charges including dangerous operation of a car, drug driving, and driving an unregistered, uninsured car with no licence.

He appeared in court by video from custody. Picture: Facebook

Police prosecutor Mark Burrell said there was no value given to the court for the damaged car however it would be fair to say it would be relatively significant.

Senior Constable Burrell conceded the drugs and alcohol in his system would have had a limited effect on his driving ability.

The police prosecutor said it was still “dangerous conduct” due to the false plates and lack of registration, insurance or a licence.

Defence lawyer Breanna Bowtell said the 34-year-old father-of-three, who had battled previously with alcohol and meth addiction, worked as a glazier and hoped to return to the profession when he was released from Woodford Correctional Centre.

Ms Bowtell said the reason why Shields was driving as he had just bought the car off of Facebook Marketplace and had to take the car at the time.

She said she was instructed the brakes weren’t working when he was driving and there was no other way for the Caboolture man to stop the vehicle.

The court heard there could be potential civil proceedings against Shields due to the crash.

Ms Smith jailed Shields for eight months, suspended immediately for 15 months and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Troy Shields pleads guilty to crashing dodgy Facebook Marketplace car at Nambour