Former Geelong man, Paul Drought, recalls helping elderly woman in carjacking ordeal

A man with a serious criminal record has turned from villain to hero after helping an elderly woman escape a carjacking in Geelong.

The intersection on the corner of Shannon Ave and Church St where the carjacking took place. Photo: Google Maps.

A man with a serious criminal record has turned hero after helping an elderly woman escape a terrifying Geelong carjacking.

Wyndham Vale’s Paul Drought, who has served time behind bars for home invasion and armed robbery, says he rushed to the aid of a 74-year-old victim after she was allegedly threatened by a woman with a knife at a set of traffic lights last week, on the corner of Shannon Ave and Church St.

Mr Drought, who has given a police statement, said he thought about his late-grandparents before deciding “I had to do something”.

The intersection on the corner of Shannon Ave and Church St where the carjacking took place. Photo: Google Maps.

“I really miss them, so I thought I’m going to help this old lady no matter what it takes,” he said.

“If I get stabbed I don’t care, I’m not letting her get away with it.”

Mr Drought, formerly of Geelong, said he and two other good Samaritans managed to grab the alleged attacker and drag her out of the car before she could take off.

“One of the other guys managed to disarm her and then the chick who was trying to hijack the car couldn’t get it going.

“She had no idea how to drive it.

“The elderly lady was pretty shaken up. I just told her we are going to get her out of your car.”

Former Geelong resident Paul Drought rushed to the aid of an elderly woman who was the alleged victim of a carjacking. Photo: Facebook.

Police told the Geelong Magistrates Court last week that witnesses came to the victim’s aid, removed the accused from the car and took the knife.

Mr Drought said they held her until police arrived.

It is an ironic turn of events for the 43-year-old, after he received a four-and-a-half year prison term in May 2020 after pleading guilty to offences including home invasion and armed robbery – two of which he was armed with a knife.

“It was an altercation that could have gone a bit sour,” he said of the carjacking.

“I wasn’t worried about myself.”

Originally published as Former Geelong man, Paul Drought, recalls helping elderly woman in carjacking ordeal