A 23-year-old man, who had been on bail for just four days when he set fire to a stolen vehicle in a Ballarat public car park in plain view of the police, has been sentenced to prison.
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Wade Turner was jailed for 15 months with a minimum non-parole period of nine months at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Friday. He was banned from driving for three months.
Earlier this month, he pleaded guilty to six offences which he committed in one afternoon in May with two co-accused.
Magistrate Letizia Torres described Turner's offending as very serious because it occurred four days after he was bailed.
"You interfered with other people's belongings and property which they rely on day-to-day. The arson occurred in a public area in the vicinity of police," Ms Torres said.
"Specific and general deterrence are very important here."
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Turner, of no fixed address, was released on bail on May 21 to return to the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on June 24.
But he re-offended across Ballarat on May 25, from 12.30pm until 8pm with two co-accused. He was arrested later that night at Point Cook.
Turner and two co-accused attended Federation University, Mount Helen campus, at 12.30pm on May 25 where they smashed the windows of three cars and riffled through them.
They found a car spare key inside a red Suzuki Swift, valued at $10,000, and stole the vehicle.
An unknown offender then stole a $7000 silver Holden Commodore at an Alfredton building site.
At 2.52pm, CCTV captured footage of a red Suzuki Swift pull up at an Alfredton business at Endeavour Way. The silver Holden Commodore parked behind the Suzuki, Turner exited the Suzuki and got in the Holden Commodore.
At 4.10pm, CCTV captured footage of Turner exiting the passenger side of the Holden Commodore at Alfredton and stealing a wallet from an unmarked CFA vehicle.
At 8pm, Turner was seen sitting in the Holden Commodore at the Victoria Street bowling club, parked next to a Ford Kuga.
Police were patrolling the area and as they approached the cars, Turner got in the Ford. The $12,000 Ford was then destroyed by fire.
The Holden Commodore, with Turner a passenger, then drove towards police in the car park and officers were forced to take evasive action to avoid a collision.
The Commodore then drove directly at another police car, causing them to take evasive action to avoid a collision.
The vehicle then sped away and travelled to Point Cook. It was clocked on the Princes Freeway travelling at 199km/h in a 100km/h zone.
Melbourne Divisional Response members saw the Holden Commodore in the Point Cook area. Turner and the two co-accused decamped but they were arrested a short time later.
The Holden Commodore had extensive damage and was missing one wheel.
Turner, who was found with the red Suzuki Swift keys, was transported to the Ballarat Police Station. He refused to be interviewed.
He was charged with stealing the Holden Commodore and the Suzuki Swift, setting fire to the Ford Kuga and stealing the wallet from the CFA vehicle.
The magistrate said Turner's sentence was reduced because he was a young man and he had his whole life ahead of him.
"I take into account your difficult childhood and adolescence, particularly the loss of your mother," Ms Torres said.
I take into account your difficult childhood and adolescence, particularly the loss of your mother
- Magistrate Letizia Torres
She said Turner had a drug habit and minimal support but she hoped he could stop using drugs and make the best of his non-parole period.
Ms Torres made an order Turner pay $19,000 in compensation for the damage to the Ford Kuga and Holden Commodore.
The 158 days Turner has already spent in custody will count towards his sentence. He appeared at court via a video link from prison on Friday.
