Passenger of joy rides in stolen cars sentenced to prison

A man who was the passenger in a 12-hour drug-fuelled joy ride – and stole petrol along the way – has been sentenced in Launceston.

The passenger of two drug-fuelled joy rides in stolen cars has been sentenced to four months imprisonment.

THE passenger of two drug-fuelled joy rides in stolen cars has been sentenced to four months imprisonment.

Timothy William Fowler, 25, of no fixed address, was sentenced by Magistrate Sharon Cure in the Launceston Magistrates Court Thursday.

He had pleaded guilty to two counts of motor vehicle stealing, five counts of stealing, drug possession, possession of pepper spray in public, destruction of property and more.

The court heard that some time after 9.45pm on November 19 last year, Fowler and another man stole a Ford Focus from an address in Mowbray.

They drove around the greater Launceston area until midday on November 20, filling up at various petrol stations without paying and at one point stopping at Kmart so Fowler could steal a pair of socks and a backpack.

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The thefts were caught on CCTV footage.

Later in November, Fowler kicked in the back door of a West Launceston property and fled on foot when the occupant called police.

Police found him nearby and found pepper spray, cannabis, the drug ICE and pills in his possession.

On December 8, Fowler and another man stole a Subaru Brumby from a Newnham address and filled it up at a United service station without paying.

At 5.30am they evaded police who tried to intercept them.

Both stolen cars were recovered by their owners.

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Defence lawyer Mark Doyle said his client had a “problematic and tragic upbringing” which lead to his drug use.

He said Fowler was addicted to drugs and homeless, but was motivated and desired a “fresh start”.

Magistrate Cure sentenced Fowler to four months imprisonment backdated to December 22.

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