Community service for car thief, 17

AN aspiring theoretical physicist who stole two cars and a set of numberplates has walked from court with just 160 hours of community service.

Madison Bree Newman, 17, pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court to two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one of stealing numberplates.

The court heard Newman’s finger prints were found on the passenger door of a car taken from Southport between December 26 and 29 last year.

The car had been taken from where it was parked on the driveway. It was found three days later in Nerang.

The police prosecutor said Newman’s finger prints were also found on the steering wheel.

The second car, a blue BMW, was taken from the Royal Pines in Arundel on Saturday night.

Police later spotted the car and when pulled over, Newman got out of the passenger seat. The number plates on the BMW had been reported stolen from another car.

Duty lawyer Lani Olafasson said Newman had aspirations to become a theoretical physicist and was returning to complete Year 11 and 12 later this year.

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair noted it was not common to see someone with high academic aspirations before the court.

“For someone at a very young age you have started some very serious criminal history,” he said.

“This could block you from being the theoretical physicist or any other high paying job in the future.”

Mr Sinclair ordered she complete 160 hours of community service and no conviction was recorded.