A man who stole a ute and set it on fire will remain in jail until at least January 2021, after he was convicted in Orange Local Court on Monday.
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Aaron Schuberth, 26, of Kurim Avenue, was convicted of stealing an Orange Holden ute from Dubbo, and setting it on fire in Orange six days later.
According to police, the ute's owner parked the vehicle in their driveway at Macquarie Street, Dubbo and locked it about 10pm on April 19, 2019.
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However, about 9am the next morning the vehicle owner discovered the ute had been stolen.
Schuberth was seen driving the ute in Orange on April 26 and drove it to Eurawillah Street, where he set it on fire using acid and a butane can at about 8.45pm.
It's very serious, he lives here in town, he's travelled to Dubbo, he's stolen someone's ute, driven it back here and burnt it.
- Magistrate David Day
After setting the ute on fire he disposed of the key to the ute, and the clothing he was wearing, at a nearby house and the items were later seized by police.
He was interviewed about the matter on May 9 and denied driving the car and said he was the passenger but changed his plea to guilty on Monday and was sentenced immediately.
Magistrate David Day gave Schuberth a total jail sentence of three years and three months with an 18-month non-parole period from July 25, 2019 to January 24, 2021.
MAP: Eurawillah Street where the ute was burnt.
The sentence included a 30-months' jail for stealing the ute and a 15-month jail sentence for setting the vehicle on fire.
Schuberth is to be supervised on parole and Mr Day noted a need for drug rehabilitation on parole.
"It's very serious, he lives here in town, he's travelled to Dubbo, he's stolen someone's ute, driven it back here and burnt it," Mr Day said.
"It's property of value and importance to the owner, the consequences are significant to the owner.
He crashed it, had a freak out and he's burnt it.
- Solicitor Andrew Abraham
"The offence is aggravated by Mr Schuberth's appalling record ... he's currently serving a sentence for driving manner dangerous, police pursuit etc."
He would have been eligible for parole on February 8 next year for that offence but due to Monday's sentencing he will remain in custody.
Mr Day said mitigating factors in the sentencing were Schuberth's age although prospects of successful rehabilitation were guarded due to his history.
Solicitor Andrew Abraham said Schuberth was affected by methamphetamine and did not remember stealing the car.
"He crashed it, had a freak out and he's burnt it," Mr Abraham said.
"He was on meth at the time, that's something he's instructed he's been doing since he was 18.
"He has a significant problem with ice use."