Two men have been jailed for stealing a Blue Care van and taking it for a joy ride across the Sunshine Coast with a “confused” dementia patient on-board. Crown prosecutor Alex Stark told a court Dean Robert Richards, 24, and Jarred Taylor Strafford, 21, were trying to evade police during a crime spree on June 18, 2019 when they spotted the Blue Care van pulled over on Hinkler Pde at Maroochydore. Mr Stark said Strafford kicked the bus driver in the chest before Richards took the wheel leading police on a 70km chase across the Coast. A 76-year-old dementia patient was in the back of the bus during the joy ride. Stingers were deployed twice as Richards wove in and out of traffic, through school zones, from Maroochydore to Caloundra and back via Nambour. Eventually the van hit a gutter and the men were surrounded by police vehicles before they were arrested. The elderly man, from Frenchville, was not injured. At Maroochydore District Court today, Richards pleaded guilty to 22 charges including dangerously operating a motor vehicle and deprivation of liberty – detain/confine. Strafford pleaded to three charges including common assault, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and deprivation of liberty – detain/confine. Both men had previously served jail time for crimes involving dishonesty with Mr Stark calling them “recidivist offenders”. “Let’s pray, aye,” Strafford said to Richards via video link as they waited for judge Glen Cash to enter the courtroom. Defence barrister Simon Lewis highlighted Strafford’s young age and said his client had struggled with a drug addiction which he was getting help for. He said the men didn’t know the 76-year-old was on the bus and they had tried to get him off during the ordeal but he was “confused”. A medical letter tendered to the court said the elderly man had little recollection of the joy ride. Defence barrister James Feely said Richards was remorseful for his actions and had received treatment for mental health issues while remanded in custody. Mr Cash considered both men had “concerning criminal history. He sentenced Strafford to 12 months’ imprisonment with parole eligibility in two months. Richards was sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment with parole eligibility on May 15 next year. He was disqualified from driving for two years.
