A motorist who took a stolen truck on a joy ride around Warrnambool was forced to find a lift home from court after his licence was suspended for six months.
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Justin Gray, 38, of Rowley Street, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Monday to theft of a motor vehicle.
The court heard he was an employee of the Warrnambool Golf Club when he stole a white Ford tip truck belonging to the business on May 8 this year.
Between midday and 1pm Gray stole the keys to the truck while he was working.He returned to the golf club at 8.15pm, pulled his hooded jumper over his face as he passed CCTV cameras and stole the truck.
Gray drove around Warrnambool, chewing up a full tank of petrol.
He then parked the truck at the train station on Merri Street and walked home with the keys still in his possession.
He returned to work the following morning and made no admission to the theft.
On May 26 police attended his home and located the keys. He was arrested, interviewed and charged.
Gray told police he left the truck at the train station as he knew if he took it back the gates to the golf club would be locked.
"I wasn't thinking about what I was actually doing," he told police.
Gray was convicted and fined $2500. His licence was suspended for six months and he was ordered to pay restitution for the cost of fuel and replacement of keys.
He no longer works at the golf club.
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