Jackiah Panadura Allen pleads guilty to three charges including grievous bodily harm over vicious camper attack

A young man responsible for a terrifying attack on two people sleeping rough in a tent at Chinaman Creek has been sentenced in Cairns District Court.

A man who viciously attacked a couple camping at Chinaman Creek at Woree has been sentenced on charges including grievous bodily harm.

Edmonton man Jackiah Panadura Allen put fuel in his car without paying and at 5am woke the campers by throwing smouldering firewood at their tent, before driving his car over the tent several times, crashing into bollards.

He then attacked a 38-year-old man with a claw hammer and the man subsequently needed surgery, and it affected his capacity to work.

The case was set for trial in Cairns District Court but Allen changed his plea on charges of grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning bodily harm, and stealing to guilty.

He was charged with assault as two days before his attack on the campers, when staff at a hotel were ushering people out of the premises at 2am, Allen yelled at the barman and punched him in the side of the face, the court heard.

Cairns District Court heard Jackiah Panadura Allen attacked a man, 38, with a claw hammer, after driving over the top of the tent the man and another were camped in. Picture: Supplied

Judge Dean Morzone KC noted Allen, who was 25 at the time of the offending and is now 27 years old, had a “disordered life, one without direction and one really driven by drugs”.

He noted Allen’s criminal history included assault, attempted robbery with violence, assault occasioning bodily harm, wilful damage, obstruct police, shop stealing and public nuisance.

“Your life tells a story and it is not a story of privilege but rather one of neglect and under-privilege,” Judge Morzone said.

He noted Allen’s stepmother was murdered by his stepfather.

“Even more troubling, is that your father is incarcerated at the same correctional centre as yourself,” Judge Morzone said.

He said in 21 months in custody, Allen had undertaken opioid substitution programs, had worked in carpentry, obtained certificates in landscaping and small engines, and now held a white card and first aid card.

Judge Morzone imposed a head sentence of five years, declaring 632 days in pre-sentence custody as time served and an immediate parole eligibility date.

Originally published as Jackiah Panadura Allen pleads guilty to three charges including grievous bodily harm over vicious camper attack