Saphfire Erihe-Schaeffer: Ipswich woman jailed after narrowly missing paramedic in wild police chase

A 20-year-old Ipswich woman with a five-page criminal history has faced court after narrowly avoiding hitting a paramedic with her car on a wild police chase.

The “chaotic” lifestyle of a young Ipswich woman has landed her in hot water after she narrowly avoided colliding with an ambulance and running over a paramedic in her car.

Saphfire Angel Erihe-Schaeffer, 20, fronted Ipswich Magistrates Court on Friday, April 22 via video link from custody, charged with 18 offences including dangerous operation of a vehicle, possessing dangerous drugs, and buying or possessing S4 or S8 medicines or poisons.

The Redbank Plains woman pleaded guilty to all offences.

The most serious offence before the court, the dangerous operation of a vehicle, related to an incident which occurred on December 26 last year.

On that day, the court heard Erihe-Schaeffer drove a Volkswagen Golf hatchback at speed past police and into a McDonald’s carpark.

She was found “unable to be roused” and an ambulance was called.

Upon its arrival, Erihe-Schaeffer started up her vehicle, wound up her window, and drove away, nearly colliding with the ambulance and running over a paramedic who yelled, “Stop, stop!”

Other charges before the court on Friday were laid after police apprehended the young woman and found her to have drugs such as Xanax on her person.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Nick Turnbull said Erihe-Schaeffer was a “recidivist” with a relevant criminal history, with the most recent bout of crimes committed between September last year and January this year while she was on parole.

He said her pleas of guilty and young age were mitigating factors, but it was important to keep in mind she was prone to reoffending.

The court heard Erihe-Schaeffer had an extensive five-page criminal history.

Defence lawyer John Wilson said his client used to live at the Sunshine Coast but relocated to Redbank Plains after deciding she needed to remove herself from a particular group of friends.

Mr Wilson told the court she had a troubled upbringing but now enjoyed a good relationship with her mother.

She attended school via the YMCA program at Bundamba, leaving in Year 10 to work in the hospitality industry.

She since obtained Responsible Service of Alcohol and Responsible Gambling certificates.

Mr Wilson said Erihe-Schaeffer had a significant drug and substance problem, mostly with ice and prescription medication, but it was a personal loss which triggered her recent downward spiral.

“She does … show some insight into her offending,” he said.

“She does have some desire to move on with her life and get away from the drug scene.”

Magistrate Leanne Scoines said she had taken into account Erihe-Schaeffer’s youth and her early pleas of guilty when deciding an appropriate penalty.

Ms Scoines referred to the young woman’s “chaotic” lifestyle, noting most of her offending was directly related to drugs.

“It just reads like somebody whose sole purpose during that period of time was getting drugs, using drugs, and having drugs in your possession,” she said.

She sentenced Erihe-Schaeffer to 11 months’ imprisonment with immediate parole eligibility, declaring her 111 days of presentence custody.

The young woman was also fined $300 and will be disqualified from driving for two years for driving while disqualified and another 12 months for dangerously operating a vehicle.

Convictions were recorded.