Man tries to steal firey's car during backburning

A SOUTH Burnett rural firefighter swapped battling blazes for taking down a would-be thief when he chased and tackled a criminal, a court has heard.

Victor Boris Bunting, 22, appeared in Nanango Magistrates Court last week where he was forced to recount the events of May 17 – the day he attempted to steal the car of a rural firefighter.

The firey was performing backburn operations near Blackbutt at the time.

Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Pepe Gangemi told the court Bunting threw a rock through the window of the unsung community hero’s car in an attempt to steal it.

The court heard the firefighter returned to his vehicle to find the car window smashed and Bunting standing next to it.

Senior Sergeant Gangemi said Bunting then snatched a set of keys from the car before hightailing it down the street where he was eventually tackled to the ground by the firefighter.

A little more than two weeks later on June 2, Senior Sergeant Gangemi said Bunting was seen drunkenly walking up Blackbutt’s Coulson Street with a bottle of liquor, yelling profanities.

Police arrested Bunting, who became agitated and threatened to headbutt police.

Bunting’s defence lawyer Jay Rose said her submission would be a good behaviour bond.

“He is 22, has no mental health issues, made no admission to using drugs or alcohol and has no history,” Ms Rose said.

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair said a probation order would help with Bunting’s problems.

“A probation order is a supervision order to help find out why you might be committing these offences,” Mr Sinclair said.

“It will assist you with getting on with life as a law-abiding person.”

Bunting pleaded guilty to failing to appear, unlawfully entering a vehicle and public nuisance.

Mr Sinclair placed Bunting on probation for six months.

No convictions were recorded against him.