Car theft ends in fiery crash, jail term

Brayden Wade Bolton has been sentenced to nearly a year behind bars after an “act of desperation” to get from Perth to Mt Barker ended in flames. Bolton, 23, who was wanted by police for breaching bail, caused $10,500 damage to equipment at Plantagenet District Hospital after a stolen Subaru Outback he was driving crashed on Albany Highway during his attempt to get to Mt Barker on January 12. He was handed an 11-month term of imprisonment in Albany Magistrate’s Court last Friday. Bolton’s defence counsel Sue Anderson told the court her client had received the Outback knowing it was stolen because he had been kicked out of a Perth address where he had been “couch surfing” in the early hours of January 12. Ms Anderson said Bolton committed a fuel drive-off in Perth to get to Mt Barker, where he had grown up and had a stronger support network. “It was an act of desperation,” Ms Anderson said. Bolton managed to get within kilometres of Mt Barker before the Outback — which was worth $6000, according to prosecuting Sergeant Peter Yuswack — crashed and burst into flames. Ms Anderson said Bolton, who has never held a driver’s licence, was driving in his own lane on Albany Highway when a semi-trailer travelling in the opposite direction swerved and clipped the Outback, causing it to crash. A member of the public drove Bolton to Plantagenet District Hospital. When police arrived at the hospital just before 5pm that day, Bolton struck a medical monitor’s screen because he was angry his mother would not leave the room, according to Sgt Yuswack. Sgt Yuswack told the court Bolton apologised to nursing staff for causing the damage after his arrest. Six months of Bolton’s 11-month sentence came from two separate Perth offences in October last year. Sgt Yuswack told the court Bolton had gone for a “joy-ride” in a stolen Lexus SUV on October 7, with police finding his finger prints and bank card in the vehicle after it was recovered by officers. On the morning of October 17, Bolton was arrested after police entered his bedroom when he was asleep with his partner. While being handcuffed and dragged out of the room by an officer, Bolton kicked his partner in the ribs, causing her to bend over in pain and cry, Sgt Yuswack said. Before handing down her sentence, Magistrate Raelene Johnston told Bolton he had “minimised” his involvement in his offending, after downplaying his assault and property damage offences. “In the heat of your anger, you lashed out at someone else,” Ms Johnston. Bolton was made eligible for parole and his sentence was backdated to January 12.