Breakdown led to jail

A TOOWOOMBA teenager had been so affected by a relationship breakdown with his former partner that he had gone on a crime spree which put him behind bars.

Zackary Tai Agoston had been living with his partner in Toowoomba but after a falling out the 18-year-old had been couch surfing, his solicitor Amber Acreman, of David Burns Lawyers, told Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

Her client instructed that all of his offending stemmed from drug use and the need for money, she said.

Over a week from October 1, last year, the 18-year-old had committed a string of offences including:

entering a car parked at a Merritt St, Harristown, residence on October 1 and stealing a wallet which contained personal identification cards and a bank card which he used eight times that same day at different Toowoomba businesses to rack up a bill of more than $400;

unlawfully using a motor vehicle which he drove dangerously on Spring St, Kearney’s Spring, while on a learner’s licence which he had failed to comply with on October 4;

unlawfully using a Mitsubishi Pajero on Dunn St, Harristown, and failing to stop on police direction, and then again failing to stop on police direction that same day at the corner of Stenner and Wests Sts, Darling Heights, on both occasions failing to comply with the provisions of a learner’s licence.

Police prosecutor Eddie Fraser told the court Agoston had spent 113 days in custody since his arrest.

Agoston appeared by video link from Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre to plead guilty to all charges.

Ms Acreman said her client had started using drugs at 14 and he acknowledged that drug use was predominantly behind his offending.

He also accepted that his driving had put other people in danger, she said.

However, the teen had done a number of courses to better himself while in custody and upon release he intended returning to Toowoomba to live with his mother who was in court supporting him, she said.

Magistrate Kay Ryan sentenced Agoston to the 113 days he had served, placed him on 18 months probation and disqualified him from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for four years and six months.

peter.hardwick@thechronicle.com.au