Tyler Turner jailed for riding in BMW that was stolen after driver was drugged

A young man with a shocking criminal history sobbed as he was jailed for riding a car that was stolen after its owner was allegedly drugged and left unconscious in Harlaxton house.

Toowoomba man Tyler James Turner pleaded with a magistrate claiming he didn not know the car he was arrested in was stolen. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Tyler James Turner pleaded with a magistrate not to send him to jail, saying he had been keeping out of trouble and did not know the car he was caught in was stolen.

This was despite being in possession of the lawful owner’s wallet, a collection of stolen bank cards and several used syringes.

Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told on Monday that the 27-year-old Ipswich man was in Toowoomba visiting family when he accepted a lift from a friend who had stolen a BMW on Sunday morning.

Police prosecutor Julia Wheaton told the court that the vehicle’s lawful owner went to an address in Doyle St, Harlaxton about 5.30am where he was given a drink.

“He believes there was some sort of substance in the drink that caused him to go to sleep, and he has woken up some hours later,” she said.

“There was no one at the address anymore and his car was missing.”

The man contacted police later in the afternoon and indicated that the vehicle had returned.

The court was told that officers went to the address in the early hours of Monday morning and found the BMW under a tarp, with Turner and another man nearby.

“(Turner) admitted he was a passenger in the vehicle and he had no permission to be inside,” Sergeant Wheaton said.

Police arrested Turner and a search of his bag found the victim’s wallet and bank cards, along with bank cards that were stolen from a Brisbane address, and five syringes.

The court was told Turner was also wanted for offences committed in Brisbane where a police wanding operation revealed he was carrying a flick knife, ice and a flare while in the CBD about 5.30pm on April 21.

Turner was due to face court for those offences, but failed to appear.

Appearing by videolink from the Toowoomba watch-house, Turner pleaded guilty to 10 offences, including unlawful use of a motor vehicle, possessing dangerous drugs and stealing.

The court was told Turner had a long criminal history that included entries for unlawful use of a motor vehicle, for which he had been jailed.

Magistrate Mark Howden said that Turner no longer had youth on his side, and that any future charge involving stolen cars would end with jail.

“I think it is clear you have a significant drug problem, you are 27 and you have a significant criminal history.”

As Mr Howden read out a sentence for eight months jail, Turner broke down, calling out over the video link that he had been keeping out of trouble.

“I didn’t know the car was stolen, your honour,” he said.

Mr Howden was unmoved as he set a parole release date at September 30 and cut the videolink while Turner sobbed into his hands.