Kieron James Blundell, 39, faces District Court for sentencing submissions after broad daylight car robbery

A Salisbury North man’s lawyer says the Clearview incident has been a big wake up call.

A Salisbury North man who stole a car with an 18-month-old baby in the back seat “did not realise” he had abducted a child, and “never intended to steal the car in those circumstances”, a court has heard.

Kieron James Blundell, 39, appeared in the District Court on Monday in front of Judge Paul Muscat for sentencing submissions, charged with one count of robbery after he stole a car outside a Clearview pet food shop in 2023. He has pleaded guilty.

Defence counsel for Blundell said the offending was of an “utterly and truly opportunistic” nature, but it was also a “huge wake-up call” for their client.

Kieron Blundell appeared in the District Court on Monday. Picture: Facebook

“He did not register that there was a baby in the car,” they said.

“Mr Blundell was in a panicked state, he was acting without thinking things through … he was also under the influence of methamphetamine and ­heroin.

“He did take off in the vehicle not knowing the child was there … he pulled over to go through the car to see what was in it and it was at that point he discovered the baby in the back.

“He abandoned it (the car) but did wait in a park nearby unbeknown to police until they arrived and then he left in an uber.”

Prosecutors alleged the car was temporarily stopped outside The Pet Food Centre at Clearview on May 18, 2023, when Blundell stole it while the keys were in the ignition.

Blundell was initially charged with child abduction, but that was withdrawn by the prosecution.

Police tracked the car with the victim Elizabeth Eastwood’s mobile phone and found it 20 minutes later at Rowe Circuit in Walkley Heights.

Baby Arli reunited with his dad. Picture: 7NEWS

In a victim impact statement read on Monday on behalf of Ms Eastwood, she detailed the horrific moment her world became “shattered” in “the blink of an eye”. “You threatened not just me, but the safety of my baby boy,” Ms Eastwood wrote.

“The aftermath of that terrifying day has left deep emotional scars.”

Blundell will appear in the District Court later this month for sentencing.