Car thief fled from police

AS police drove after a Rockhampton man, he ditched a stolen car and bolted.

But his dash for freedom didn’t last long.

Yesterday Anthony John Hutchinson was behind bars, sentenced to nine months in jail.

Police had been attempting to track him down ever since he fled the stolen car late January.

On Tuesday they caught their man when they spotted Hutchinson walking along Canning Street in Rockhampton.

The 19-year-old was also wanted on a warrant for the unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Acting Magistrate Mark Morrow sentenced him to nine months jail after he pled guilty to the unlawful use of a motor vehicle, for driving without a licence and disobeying speed limits.

The Rockhampton Magistrates Court heard Hutchinson had been caught driving 66km in a 40km zone at St Peters School on January 29.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Kevin Ongheen said Hutchinson was on the move in the stolen vehicle on the same day.

Authorities recognised the offender as they were performing radar operations and drove after him in attempt to catch him.

He was arrested and kept in custody overnight Tuesday.