AMount Gambier man has been sentenced to more than two years imprisonment following a Facebook Marketplace car swap gone wrong.
Blake Edwin Doecke, 30, faced the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in custody via audio visual link last week presided over by Auxillary Magistrate Teresa Anderson and represented by lawyer Michael Thomas.
Mr Doecke was convicted of driving a vehicle while his licence was disqualified/suspended, displaying unprescribed number plates and using a motor vehicle without consent.
Mount Gambier Police Prosecutor Stephanie Rikkard told the court that in October 2023 the victim posted a White Mercedes Benz AMG for sale with the option of a vehicle swap on Facebook Marketplace located in Whyalla.
“A male by the name of Christopher Munn contacted the victim on Facebook and asked to swap the Mercedes Benz for a Toyota Hilux,” she said.
“He advised the vehicle was located in Naracoorte and they were happy to drive to Whyalla to collect.
“On the 14th of October, a male arrived at the victim’s residential address. The victim provided a male paperwork for the Mercedes Benz and advised that he would provide the paperwork for the Toyota when he returned to Adelaide as it belonged to his granddad.
“They exchanged vehicles and the male left and then the defendant was later located filling up the vehicle with fuel. That was on the 25th of October.
“The defendant was located filling up the white Mercedes Benz bearing Victorian registration plates at the BP on O’Leary Road Mount Gambier.”
The court heard the Toyota Hilux was stolen from a local automotive business where Mr Doecke worked at the time and had false number plates attached to it.
“He has to have one of the most extensive histories of driving whilst disqualified that I have seen,” Auxillary Magistrate Anderson said.
Mr Doecke was sentenced to 25 months and 33 days of imprisonment backdated to November 23, 2023 with a non-parole period of 12 months, a 12 month licence disqualification to commence following his release from prison and a $100 fine.
