A learner driver who stole a car before setting it on fire has been sentenced to 13 months behind bars – but will be allowed to serve out his sentence in the community.
The 18-year-old from Nowra pleaded guilty in Nowra Local Court to charges including stealing a motor vehicle and destroy property by fire.
The man and a friend were caught on CCTV taking a food delivery driver’s car from a BP petrol station in Nowra on the evening of July 8, and driving it around for several hours.
The vehicle was found burned out at Worrowing Heights at 1am the following day – 6 hours after it was taken.
Police said a man handed himself in to his local police station more than two weeks later.
On top of his prison term the teenager was fined $500 and given a 12-month community corrections order. He was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.
Prison sentences served in the community are typically carried out under supervision and have strict conditions such as regular reporting, participation in rehabilitation programs, curfews, and exclusion orders preventing the convicted person from entering specified areas or associating with particular individuals.
