Teenager steals two cars to visit his girlfriend, crashes both

A JOYRIDE to visit a girlfriend turned nasty for a 19-year-old boy who stole two vehicles on separate occasions and was involved in accidents.

Jurio Junior Nyathi from Bulawayo’s Tshabalala suburb yesterday appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate, Mr Lungile Ncube, facing two counts of theft of a motor vehicle and two counts of driving a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s licence.

He pleaded guilty to all counts. In his defence he said: “I stole the vehicles to transport a birthday present to my girlfriend as I wanted to surprise her on her special day. “Unfortunately, I was involved in accidents on the two occasions I attempted to deliver the present. I plead with the court to forgive me, it has dawned on me that what I did was wrong.”

In aggravation, prosecutor, Mr Sehliselo Khumalo said: “He is a youthful offender and started the crime at the deep end. He used sophisticated means to open and start the cars.

“The victims suffered huge losses as a result of the accidents. He planned to carry out the crime and executed it with accuracy. This is why church members could not notice him driving off or hear the sound of the vehicles as he drove off. I pray for a custodial sentence so that he will reform in jail.”

The matter was postponed to today for sentence.

Mr Khumalo said on January 18 this year, Mr Moses Mataruse, a teacher, parked his Honda Fit car inside the yard at a church situated in the suburb.

“Mr Mataruse parked his light blue Honda Fit, registration number AHC5682, closed all the windows and locked the doors. He went inside the church to attend the service. The accused used an unknown object to open the door, started the vehicle and drove off.

“He headed to his girlfriend’s place and was involved in an accident. After the accident, Nyathi who was driving the vehicle without a licence, dumped it on the roadside,” said Mr Khumalo.

He said after the church service, Mr Mataruse was shocked to find out that his car had been stolen. The car was valued at US$4 000.

The court heard that last Sunday, Nyathi who was on the run, went back to the same church shortly after 8AM and used an unknown object to open the doors of a Honda Fit belonging to Mr Khumbuzile Nyoni, a prison officer.

“Nyathi used an object to start the vehicle and headed to Gwabalanda suburb to visit his girlfriend. He was again involved in an accident as the car veered off the road and rammed into a tree. After the accident Nyathi disappeared from the scene,” said Mr Khumalo.

Police investigations led to the arrest of Nyathi, who then confessed to stealing the two vehicles from the Church and bashing them.