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Cape Town - In October 2016 Wheels24 reported on a Texas tow truck driver who took a client’s Nissan GT-R for a joyride. The events were captured on dashcam.
ABC13 Eyewitness News now reports that the tow truck driver, Travis O’Sullivan, appeared in court on Monday, December 5. O’Sullivan and two others who were involved with him - Ryan Jayce Spencer and Tony Spencer - have been criminally charged.
Laying charges
O’Sullivan and Ryan Spencer have both been charged with felony and unauthorised use of a motor vehicle. Tony Spencer is believed to have joined the duo on the joyride, but has only been charged with misdemeanour criminal trespass in a motor vehicle.
It has also come to light that O’Sullivan is not in possession of a valid driver’s license, nor is he licensed to operate a tow truck. In short, O’Sullivan should not have been driving any vehicle.
WATCH: Tow-truck driver takes pricey Nissan GT-R for a spin
The owner of the GT-R, Brian Montgomery, told ABC 13 that he is glad that charges have finally been brought against them.
Montgomery, who uses a wheelchair to go about his business, said to the credited source: "It really upset me knowing this is my independence that could've been taken away for a very long time depending on what kind of damage may have been done to the vehicle at the time."
List of crime
O’Sullivan already has a criminal record that includes theft, burglary, and driving while intoxicated (DWI).
Montgomery told ABC13 that the towing company gave him their assurance that they checked O’Sullivan’s history and that they did not find anything on him. But Montgomery said he did his own investigation into the criminal’s history and found more than what the tow company claims.
READ: 12 tips - How to deal with tow trucks and SA police
“Whenever I did a simple check and found five violations under this guy's name that's pretty easy to find for anybody,” Montgomery added.
Should they be found guilty, O’Sullivan and Tony Spencer could face up to two years in jail.
