Punishment for man who drove hire vehicle from Victoria to Albany and continued using for eight months

A 42-year-old man hired a vehicle for two days on Christmas Eve in Victoria, then drove it across the country to Albany and continued using it for eight months until it was seized by police. Samuel John Bonanno drove a $26,845 Izuzu D-MAX ute 3000km from the point of hire in Mildura to Albany after a relationship breakdown. Bonanno appeared in Albany Magistrates Court last week and pleaded guilty to one count of stealing a motor vehicle. Police prosecutor Sgt Dave Loverock told the court Bonanno rented the vehicle for two days with a maximum allowance of 1500km. The ute was due to be returned at 9am on December 26. But Bonanno decided to make the journey to see family in WA, arriving in Albany on December 30. The vehicle was taken to an Albany mechanic on July 12, when Bonanno tried to get repairs done under warranty after claiming he was the owner. The rental company had reported the vehicle stolen on February 25. Police were notified and seized the car on August 8, Sgt Loverock said. Sgt Loverock told the court Bonanno should be placed on a court order given the amount of money the hire company would have lost. “He’s driven the vehicle to the other side of the country and still continued to use it,” he said. “At no stage has he made any indications of returning it to the owner. “There was detriment to the owner with loss of the car, inability to hire it and therefore a loss of income. “A fine would be inappropriate.” Albany Magistrate Dianne Scaddan said such an offence was usually associated with “short-term joy rides”. “You drove the 3000km to WA with no permission from the hire company ... it breaks down and you try to get the vehicle fixed by saying it was yours,” she said. “This was an ongoing offence with significant deception and personal gain, with a reasonable loss to the hire company.” In her sentencing remarks, Ms Scaddan made reference to Bonanno’s “ongoing flagrant disregard to road laws across Australia”. Ms Scaddan placed Bonanno on a 12-month community-based order, which includes counselling requirements.