Jack Greene guilty of car theft & dangerous driving on meth, Gladstone

A car thief on meth sped away from police, at one stage driving dangerously on the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic.

Jack Greene was sentenced in Gladstone Magistrates Court on March 6.

A driver who sped away from police in a stolen car while affected by methamphetamine has been sentenced for his crimes.

Jack Greene, 24, appeared in custody in Gladstone Magistrates Court on March 6 where he pleaded guilty to unlawful use of motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a vehicle while affected by an intoxicating substance, and evasion.

The court heard the victim parked his Nissan Pulsar outside the Siesta Villa Motel where he was staying.

The car was locked.

About 10.30am on July 19, the victim went to his car, discovered it had been stolen and reported it to police.

About 3.35pm, police saw the stolen vehicle at a set of lights on Glenlyon Road before it failed to give way.

The court heard that Greene was driving the car and at the time, he had methamphetamine in his system.

Police activated lights and sirens but Greene did not stop, instead continuing at speed along Central Lane.

Jack Greene.

Greene again failed to give way, this time at the Lord Street intersection.

“Police observed the vehicle being driven in a dangerous manner around the roundabout... (and) proceed around the roundabout at speed before exiting,” police prosecutor Jennifer Leach said.

The court heard Greene then drove towards oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the road.

It was told Greene had a seven-page criminal history but no traffic history, and these offences were committed while he was on parole.

Solicitor Cam Schroder said Greene had used his 231 days in pre-sentence custody “quite profitably” having obtained numerous tickets for the construction industry, as well as certificates for the sports, retail and hospitality sectors.

Mr Schroder said after Greene was released from custody, he wanted to return to Cairns for family reasons and get work there.

Magistrate Mary Buchanan sentenced Greene to 10 months’ jail to start at the completion of the term he was currently serving for an assault occasioning bodily harm offence.

She declared the 231 days’ pre-sentence custody as time already served and fixed immediate parole eligibility.

Greene was also disqualified from driving for two years and six months.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Jack Greene guilty of car theft & dangerous driving on meth, Gladstone