A WILLAGEE man who is serving time for driving under suspension while on a suspended prison sentence and driving without a licence, has narrowly escaped adding to his jail term after stealing and stripping a car of its parts.
Appearing via video link from Albany Regional Prison at the Fremantle Magistrates Court today, Mark Brian Benedetti pleaded guilty to stealing the Toyota FJ Cruiser, worth about $25,000, from the Trigg Beach carpark on October 12.
Police prosecutor Mark Henry said the car had been stripped of its parts before being abandoned on Rockingham Road, Hamilton Hill.
Senior Constable Henry said the car could not be re-licenced without significant work, which would cost more than the car was worth.
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READ NOWPolice attended Mr Benedetti’s Willagee address on November 7 and located CCTV footage of the car arriving in to his property.
Magistrate Peter Malone said he was tempted to add to Mr Benedetti’s 24-month sentence, but gave him seven months to run concurrently with the sentence.
Mr Benedetti received a one-year and eight-month sentence on November 5 for driving under suspension while on a suspended prison sentence and then received another four months on November 7 for having no authority to drive.