Brody Scott Thompson has habit of being caught in stolen cars but this time claims he was sleeping

This 19-year-old had 10 previous convictions for unlawfully using motor vehicles - but this time claimed he was just sleeping in it.

A Toowoomba teenager with a habit of being caught in stolen vehicles this time claimed he was just sleeping in the car.

Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard police who found a stolen caron Ena St, Cotswold Hills, about 8.30pm Monday approached to find Brody Scott Thompson in the driver’s seat.

Police claim the 19-year-old initially tried to drive off in the car, which had been reported stolen that same day, police prosecutor Julie Wheaton told the court.

When Thompson declined police directions to open the door, officers smashed the driver’s side window and removed the teenager from the vehicle, she said.

Police found a set of knuckle dusters on the car’s dashboard and Thompson had the keys to the car, Sergeant Wheaton said.

At the watch house, Thompson was found with a syringe and needle which had not been properly disposed of and some subutex strips, she said.

Toowoomba Courthouse, police station and watch house, Hume St, Toowoomba City.

Thompson was remanded in custody and spent three nights in the watch house from where he appeared via video link on Thursday to plead guilty to receiving tainted property (the car’s keys), obstructing police, unlawful possession of a weapon, failing to dispose of needle and syringe, unlicensed driving SPER suspended, and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Duty lawyer Paige Hetherington, of Skuse Graham Lawyers, told the court Thompson instructed he had been between homes at the time and couch surfing and was sleeping in the car.

Thompson had appeared before the same court in October 2023 to plead guilty to his 10th offence of unlawfully using motor vehicles arising from being a passenger in a stolen car as well as other matters and was jailed for four months with 69 days presentence custody declared served.

Magistrate Louise Shephard noted Thompson had been placed on probation last month but that order hadn’t had time to take effect.

Ms Shephard sentenced him to eight months in jail but, declaring three days pre-sentence custody as time served, ordered he be released immediately on parole with the probation order to continue and disqualified him from driving for one month.