Brett David Thomas, 47, was jailed when he appeared in custody for sentence before Bathurst Local Court.

The court heard Thomas – of Nunkeri Place, Orange – had only two days’ parole to run when he took the white 1999 Holden Commodore SS for a test drive from Wholesale Used Cars in William Street, Orange. Thomas, the court heard, had also been on a 12-month suspended sentence bond over the assault of police, imposed last September in Orange Local Court.

Bathurst magistrate Jan Stevenson formally revoked the bond, sentencing Thomas to two years’ jail with non-parole one year over breaching the bond by taking the car, valued between $5000-$15,000.

She also jailed him six months for menacing driving near the corner of Havannah Street and Great Western Highway, Bathurst.

The court heard the used car yard owner, Peter Smith, thought Thomas had gone on a 30-minute test drive about 2.15pm on Friday, January 2.

Thomas had shown his licence before driving away. Mr Smith reported the car had been stolen about an hour later.

About the same time, police in Bathurst heard of Thomas driving erratically on the Sydney Road.

Police said Thomas had tailgated another driver on the highway, coming within a metre of the other car. The other driver slowed down and Thomas passed, drawing level on the passenger’s side.

Thomas had his side window down and yelled: “You wanna go?”

The court heard the other driver had his right arm in a plaster cast and yelled: “You’re a real hero mate. My arm’s in a plaster, you want to have a go at a man with one arm?” When the driver slowed almost to a stop, Thomas drove off towards Lithgow.

Police found the stolen Commodore parked near Lithgow with minor front-end damage about 4.05pm. Thomas was arrested soon afterwards but declined to be interviewed. Police established that Thomas had been unemployed in receipt of benefits with only $3 in his bank account when he entered into an agreement to test drive the car.