Man sentenced for stealing HiLux on a test drive

A Gold Coast dad has spent months behind bars after brazenly stealing a new Toyota HiLux during a test drive.

Shannon Daile Adam Ryder had arranged to test drive a vehicle at the Hinterland Toyota dealership in Highland Park on August 14 last year, showing staff a forged driver’s licence in another person’s name.

Southport Magistrates Court was told Ryder had to leave and come back about an hour later due to no staff being available, pointing to his “premeditation”.

Prosecutor Aylish Robertson said a staff member was in the process of handing the car over to Ryder to test drive when the 32-year-old shoved past them and climbed into the driver’s seat, taking off in the HiLux. The car was found abandoned in a Tugun car park the next day, with a fingerprint inside it identifying Ryder as the thief.

Ms Robertson said it came only weeks after Ryder was seen doing burnouts on a street with children and their parents nearby, reportedly coming within inches of other cars.

The court was told Ryder had swerved towards a police car in a separate incident about a week prior, with “no intention” of hitting it but wanting to avoid being arrested.

Defence lawyer Jason Grant, of Grant Lawyers, said the “wheels fell off” for his client in 2018 as he turned to drugs to try to cope with the deaths of two close friends.

Mr Grant said Ryder had started taking antidepressants during his six months in custody and planned to return to work and complete his apprenticeship once released.

A letter from Ryder’s expartner was one of several submitted to the court, revealing he had a close relationship with their young son and spoke to him every day from jail.

Magistrate Janice Crawford said Ryder took his role as a father and stepfather to his partner’s daughter seriously.

“No doubt you’ve got very good reasons to get yourself back on to the straight and narrow,” Ms Crawford said.

Ryder pleaded guilty to 22 charges including stealing, uttering a forged document, and dangerous operation of a vehicle.

Magistrate Janice Crawford proceeded to sentence Ryder to 18 months’ jail with immediate parole.