Frank Pollard sentenced for attempted carjacking at northern suburbs supermarket

A couple “desperate” for their next meth hit attempted to force a woman out of her car in a supermarket car park before stealing her handbag.

A man had been awake for days when he attempted to force an unsuspecting woman out of her car in a carpark, while his girlfriend stole her handbag.

Frank Pollard, 41, and Jessica Hitch were “desperate” for their next hit when they committed the opportunistic theft.

The Adelaide District Court heard the victim was sitting in her car in the underground car park of the Parabanks Shopping Centre at Salisbury on February 5, 2021.

Pollard opened the driver’s door and reached inside and grabbed the keys from the ignition, while his partner at the time, Hitch opened the passenger door.

“You yelled at the victim to ‘get the f*** out’,” Judge Paul Muscat said during sentencing.

Pollard tried to force the victim out of the car but eventually gave up and ran off with the car keys towards a park.

The victim realised that her handbag was missing from the front passenger seat which had been stolen by Hitch.

Police were called and apprehended Pollard nearby after he made a run for it.

They found the victim’s handbag with $120 missing and the car keys.

The Salisbury North father pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and theft.

Frank Pollard pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and theft. Photo: Facebook

Jessica Hitch was sentenced for theft. Photo: Facebook

Hitch pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced in November for her role in the offending.

The court heard Pollard turned to using methamphetamine after a relationship breakdown and became addicted to it – even selling his house to fund his use.

“When the money ran out you began looking for any way you could to fund your addiction, which meant you took to committing crime,” Judge Muscat said.

“You and Hitch were both hanging out for drugs … you have claimed that you had been awake for days before the offending.”

The court heard Hitch and Pollard were “desperate” on the day of the offending and opportunistically targeted the victim.

“You told Hitch to steal the victim’s handbag while you distracted the victim,” Judge Muscat said.

The court heard Pollard was ashamed of his conduct and a short period in custody was the shock he needed to turn his life around.

Pollard had since stopped using drugs and now works full-time in a factory manufacturing airconditioners.

Judge Muscat sentenced Pollard to three years and nine months jail, with a non-parole period of two years.

Due to Pollard’s rehabilitation efforts and employment, the sentence was suspended on a $1000, two-year good behaviour bond, with supervision.