An Ashmont man who stole his grandmother’s keys and car while she was on the toilet has been put behind bars.
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Brendan Luke Morgan, 28, was already disqualified from driving until 2045 when he was caught taking and driving a car without consent and driving while disqualified on two occasions.
Morgan was also on bail when he got behind the wheel on the second occasion, just seven days after he first took to the road on September 29.
Both offences were in breach of three suspended prison sentences, including two for driving while disqualified.
Solicitor Carmen McKay, who represented the accused, asked Magistrate Erin Kennedy to consider a limited non-parole period, given he was his grandmother’s sole carer.
“He no longer has access to a car – I’d suggest this was a dawning moment for him,” Ms McKay said.
Ms McKay also asked Ms Kennedy to take into account the changes in legislation in relation to the penalties for driving while disqualified.
Ms Kennedy told Morgan, who pleaded guilty to all charges, that he needed to get help. “You put yourself in this position knowing you had these bonds but you got back in the car anyway,” she said.
“You’re making bad choices and if you don’t resolve them you could spend your life in and out of prison.”
Morgan was sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of three months.
Upon release, he will be subject to a 12-month good behaviour bond and disqualified from driving for two more years.