Bulawayo Teen Faces Jail After Stealing Two Cars to Visit Girlfriend, Crashes Both
A 19-year-old from Tshabalala suburb in Bulawayo is facing jail time after stealing two vehicles on separate occasions in a bid to visit his girlfriend with both joyrides ending in accidents.
Jurio Junior Nyathi appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube charged with two counts of motor vehicle theft and two counts of driving without a valid licence.
He pleaded guilty to all charges. Sentencing was postponed to today.
Also Read: Harare Car Dealer Duped Over US$52,000 in Fake ZIMRA Border Clearance Scam
Church Parking Lot Targeted Twice
The court heard that on January 18, Nyathi allegedly stole a light blue Honda Fit belonging to teacher Moses Mataruse. The vehicle had been parked and locked inside the yard of a church in Tshabalala while the owner attended a service.
Prosecutor Sehliselo Khumalo told the court that Nyathi used an unknown object to gain entry into the vehicle before driving off unnoticed. He allegedly proceeded to his girlfriend’s residence but was involved in an accident along the way. The damaged vehicle, valued at US$4 000, was later abandoned at the roadside.
In a similar incident last Sunday shortly after 8AM, Nyathi allegedly returned to the same church premises and stole another Honda Fit, this time belonging to prison officer Khumbuzile Nyoni. He reportedly drove towards Gwabalanda suburb to see his girlfriend but again lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road and crashed into a tree. He allegedly fled the scene.
Accused Cites Birthday Surprise
In mitigation, Nyathi told the court that he had intended to surprise his girlfriend with a birthday gift and had taken the vehicles to transport the present.
“I wanted to surprise her on her special day. Unfortunately, I was involved in accidents on both occasions. I now realise what I did was wrong and ask the court for forgiveness,” he said.
Police investigations led to Nyathi’s arrest, after which he confessed to stealing and crashing both vehicles.
State Seeks Custodial Sentence
However, the State argued that the offences were premeditated. Khumalo said Nyathi used sophisticated methods to unlock and start the vehicles without detection, adding that the victims suffered significant losses due to the accidents.
Describing him as a youthful offender who had “started at the deep end,” the prosecutor urged the court to impose a custodial sentence, arguing that imprisonment would allow him time to reform.
Flipcash is Your Trusted PayPal & Crypto Exchange Partner in Zimbabwe — WhatsApp +263 77 163 9263
The post Bulawayo Teen Faces Jail After Stealing Two Cars to Visit Girlfriend appeared first on iHarare News.
