David Sean Bainbridge demanded mum remove toddler before he steals her car
A Gold Coast mum was left terrified after a man jumped in her car while her toddler was in the back at a grocery store. What happened next has left her looking over her shoulder.
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A former recreational boxer made a Gold Coast mother take her toddler from the back seat of her vehicle in a terrifying carjacking outside a grocery store.
David Sean Bainbridge then used the woman’s bank card to buy cigarettes, a lighter and a bottle of Powerade before fleeing to Brisbane.
He was stopped by police after he filled up the car without paying at a petrol station in Chermside.
Bainbridge had been released on parole only a few weeks earlier.
The 39-year-old pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Wednesday to unlawful use of a motor vehicle, stealing and two counts of fraud.
Judge Geraldine Dann sentenced him to two years’ prison with immediate eligibility on parole and two years’ probation. Bainbridge has been in custody for almost 20 months.
“It was unsophisticated offending but it is the sort of offending that is very frightening for members of the public going about their affairs lawfully, particularly with small children in the car,” she said.
“I have read the victim impact statement from the claimant and she has suffered very significantly.
“She talks about no longer feeling safe in the world around her. She talks about looking over her shoulder wherever she goes.
“She talks about panic attacks when men walk towards her quickly and she doesn’t know.
“So her life has been very significantly affected by what happened to her.”
The court was told the young mum had gone to Coles at Palm Beach about 9am on March 3, 2020 to pick up her click and collect order.
Her two-and-a-half-year-old child was sitting in the back of the car while the mum put the groceries in the vehicle.
Bainbridge jumped in the car and demanded the mum get the child out of the back seat.
The mum unbuckled the child and tried to grab her handbag. As she did, her purse fell out.
The boot of the car was still open as Bainbridge drove off.
He bought a pack of cigarettes, drink and lighter at a shop in Mudgeeraba. Bainbridge then drove the car to Brisbane, stopping only for fuel in Chermside.
He did not pay.
Bainbridge was caught by police the following day.
The court was told that Bainbridge had received an upsetting phone call about his mother’s health and he took the car in order to take his mum to hospital.
Bainbridge planned to return to recreational boxing when he was released, the court was told.
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