Joshua Dean Mathews, 25, was arrested in May this year after he first ran a red light in front of police, prompting officers to pull his white Hyundai Excel over along Douglas Grove at Glenelg North.
Officers then discovered the alterations made to the car to make it look like a convertible. The vehicle also had considerable crash damage to its rear.
Police checks revealed his drivers licence had expired six years prior and he was ordered not to drive under his bail conditions.
The Elizabeth Downs resident was charged with a string of offences, including breaching vehicle standards, failing to stop at traffic lights and breaching bail and pleaded guilty to them all.
Joshua Dean Mathews pleaded guilty to a string of driving offences after he cut off the roof of his standard sedan to make it look like a convertible. Picture: David Mariuz / NCA NewsWireSource:News Corp Australia
The home made convertible, that had extensive damage to its rear, caught the attention of police after running a red light. Photo: SA PoliceSource:Supplied
Mr Mathews appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to unrelated charges of assault and theft.
The court heard he stole a pram from Baby Bunting at Gepps Cross on April 15 this year and in the process assaulted a woman.
Con O’Neill, for the defence, said his client suffered from depression, anxiety, anger management issues and poor impulse control.
The court also heard the defendant had been jailed and spent time in juvenile detention in the past.
The lawyer asked for a report from the state’s prison system about Mr Mathews before he was sentenced.
Mr O’Neill also asked Magistrate Simon Smart to amalgamate all charges against his client so he could be sentenced in one hearing and to consider handing down home detention for his client because he was offered a job.
Magistrate Smart ordered a home detention report.
Mr Matthews hurled abuse at media outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court in June. Picture: David Mariuz / NCA NewsWireSource:News Corp Australia
Before his brief court appearance in July for his driving offences, Mr Mathews hurled abuse at reporters outside of court, threatening to smash TV cameras on the ground.
He said he was not concerned about the potential consequences because he was “already going to jail”.
As he left the building with his lawyer, he made no comment to reporters but did flip cameras the bird.
Mr Mathews is due to reappear before the court in October.