Kalloom Juan Johnson sentenced for driving car at Gladstone pedestrian

While out for an evening walk, a man had to jump out of the way after an armed driver “lined him up” and headed straight for him. Now, the reason for the “bad decision” has been revealed.

Kalloom Juan Johnson has fronted Gladstone court after arming himself with a hammer.

It was 7.25pm and Kalloom Juan Johnson, driving a dual cab ute, recognised a man walking on Gladstone’s Coase Street.

Johnson stopped the vehicle, got out, and ran to the back of the tray where he grabbed a hammer.

He then ran at the man, raised the hammer above his shoulder and once within two metres he said: “You’re the guy that threatened me.”

The walker ran and Johnson got back into the ute but he wasn’t finished there.

Johnson drove from the left side of the road towards the man who was on the opposite side of the road.

He accelerated quickly and the man had to jump, fearing he was going to be hit by the vehicle.

Johnson then reversed back onto the correct side of the road and slowly followed the man to the end of Coase Street.

He drove off and stopped at the man’s residence in Hetherington Street where a witness saw him pull up.

These details were read out in Gladstone Magistrates Court where Johnson, 22, pleaded guilty on March 13 to charges including going armed to cause fear and dangerous operation of a vehicle.

Gladstone Courthouse.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Merrilyn Hoskins said Johnson told police he was unprovoked, and he had “lined the victim up”.

The court heard Johnson had a two-page criminal history with no prior offending of this sort.

Solicitor Bianca Wieland said Johnson was employed and he had no substance issues.

She said there was history with the victim who was “a rear neighbour” and there had been an ongoing dispute.

“At the time (of these offences) he’d had a very poor time at work, and he then made a bad decision to essentially take it out (on the victim).

“He is very remorseful.”

Prior to imposing penalty, Acting Magistrate Stephen Guttridge told Johnson that using a car as a weapon was a very serious offence.

He sentenced Johnson to six months’ jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of 18 months.

Johnson was also fined $1200 and disqualified from driving for six months.