Stolen ute discovered by police

BATTERED and allegedly waiting to be hocked for parts, a muchneeded ute belonging to Cooktown’s volunteer Lions Club has been found five hours away, and nearly two months after it was stolen from a local front yard.

Endeavour Lions Club president Jim Fay said the vehicle was found in Innisfail, allegedly at a dealer known to buy cars to sell for parts.

“They were doing burnouts everywhere with it, a well known local fella took it,” Mr Fay said.

“He damaged the front mudguards and must have blown a back tyre because there’s a different tyre on there. It’s with the insurance assessors at the moment, and we’re waiting to see whether they write it off or it can be fixed.”

Senior Sergeant John McArthur said an 18-year-old man had been charged in relation to the theft.

“He was arrested on December 20 and was given 12 months’ probation after being held in custody until January 20,” he said.

The ute was only three years old and had been the club’s only transport, used predominantly to pick up the many cages around town used to collect cans redeemed for cash and poured back into the club.

Since the theft, the Lions purchased a second-hand vehicle to cover the loss.