Nicholas Godbehere, Ipswich, sentenced for armed unlawful use of Fernvale family’s car

A local family was left traumatised after being confronted with an armed man in their carport, who then made off with their car at high speeds into oncoming traffic, an Ipswich court has heard.

A local family was left traumatised after being confronted with an armed man in their carport, who then made off with their car at high speeds into oncoming traffic, an Ipswich court has heard. Picture: Istock

An Ipswich man hid in a dam from a dog squad after he threatened a family with what appeared to be a gun and made off with their car at high speeds into oncoming traffic, a court has heard.

Bellbird Park father-of-two Nicholas Godbehere, 32, pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court on October 5, 2023, to once count each of unlawful entry of a motor vehicle with intent to commit an indictable offence at night (with violence and while armed/in company), dangerous operation of a vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and wilful damage.

The court heard a Fernvale family was at home around 10.30pm on June 25, 2021, when they heard noise coming from their carport.

The family’s home had been broken into a few nights prior and a number of items had been stolen, including a spare set of car keys.

It was not alleged Godbehere was involved in that theft.

However, when a man went to investigate the carport on the night of the 25th, he saw Godbehere in the driver’s seat of one of their cars.

The court heard an unidentified woman was also looking at another car.

Crown prosecutor Michelle Parfitt said the man grabbed the woman and called out to his wife to call police.

She said Godbehere was holding what appeared to be a firearm and yelled at the man to let the woman go.

Ms Parfitt said Godbehere pointed the seeming weapon at the man and used the butt of it to strike him in the face.

The man fell to his knees, and Godbehere kicked him in the face.

Godbehere drove away and rammed through the gate, while the woman made off on foot.

The court heard the man’s wife followed after Godbehere for some time in her daughter’s car.

An unmarked police car later observed Godbehere driving the car along the highway with no headlights on.

Ms Parfitt said Godbehere drove at excessive speeds of up to 150km/hr and on drove into oncoming traffic on multiple occasions – with the headlights still off.

Police used a tyre deflation device to slow Godbehere down and located the car abandoned.

They used police dogs to track him down, and found him hiding in a dam, the court heard.

Ms Parfitt said they did not locate a firearm or any other weapon on his person, so the Crown could not prove it was a real firearm.

Godbehere had been remanded in custody for over two years since.

Ms Parfitt noted Godbehere had been on a suspended sentence for drug offending at the time, and some of his time in custody counted towards that sentence.

She said this matter had originally been committed for trial, but Godbehere had indicated he wanted to plead guilty on the morning of that trial.

“The offending was of course very frightening for these complainant citizens who were at home minding their business when the offending unfolded,” Ms Parfitt said.

She said their victim impact statements indicated how the offending had a “lasting impact on the whole of their family”.

Judge Nicole Kefford said Godbehere’s “abhorrent” driving alone was “very serious offending”.

She said the family “should have felt safe in their home … and now they don’t”.

She noted Godbehere had an “unfortunate” upbringing and had struggled with his mental health and methamphetamine use.

Judge Kefford encouraged Godbehere to reflect on his struggles, and his choice to “spread those struggles”.

“These things have ripple effects in the community”, she said.

Godbehere was sentenced to five years imprisonment, with immediate parole eligibility.

His 832 days in presentence custody were declared time-served.