Siblings Shane, April Power-Smith sentenced for violent Ipswich carjacking

An Ipswich driver was threatened with a metal pole by a brother and sister in a carjacking which left the victim stranded by the roadside, only to find his wrecked car days later.

April Faith Alice Power-Smith (right) leaving Ipswich Court on August 30, 2023. Picture: Nicola McNamara

A brother and sister have faced court for a violent carjacking in which they confronted the motorist with a metal pole before leaving him stranded by the roadside.

Shane Power-Smith, 25, of Park Ridge and April Faith Alice Power-Smith, 24, of Leichhardt, faced Ipswich District Court on August 30 over the Redbank incident.

They both pleaded guilty to one count each of unlawful entry of a motor vehicle to commit an indictable offence at night (using violence) while armed and in company and unlawful use of a motor vehicle (wilfully destroyed, damaged or removed).

On October 5 last year the siblings concocted a plan to get the victim to drive to a secluded area so that they could take his car from him.

Judge Dennis Lynch said Shane Power-Smith threatened the man and assaulted him by grabbing hold of him.

The court heard his sister wielded a metal pole throughout the incident.

After the man got out of the car Shane Power-Smith jumped in the driver’s seat and drove off with his sister.

The man was uninjured, but the car was later involved in a collision and had to be written off.

Crown prosecutor Caitlin Smith tendered a photograph to the court which showed significant damage to the car.

She said the siblings had played similar roles in the offending.

“Miss Power-Smith didn’t inflict any actual violence … however she did arm herself with the metal pole and she was the person who had set the complainant up to be offended against in this way,” Ms Smith said.

April Faith Alice Power-Smith leaving Ipswich Court on August 30. Picture: Nicola McNamara

Judge Lynch noted Shane Power-Smith had spent much of his adult life in custody and had been on parole at the time of the carjacking for a robbery offence.

Defence barrister Justin Thomas said Shane Power-Smith had struggled with drug addiction for some years.

The court heard he had completed a number of certificates while in custody and planned to move to Maryborough upon his release to reunite with his partner and young child.

His sister April had a young child and was a single parent.

Defence barrister Dan Boddice said his client’s time in custody away from her daughter would likely deter her from offending in future.

She had struggled significantly with her mental health and her criminal history included convictions for burglary and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Both siblings had had difficult upbringings, but Judge Dennis Lynch encouraged them not to give up on their futures.

“There’s no reason you can’t get back into the community – each of you – and live a productive and happy life. That’s what the community would like,” Judge Lynch said.

“If you just give up and say ‘the police are the enemy, I want to use drugs and I want to do whatever I like’, you know the next 10 years Shane, you’ll be spending most of it in jail.”

“You don’t have to live like that. There’s no reason that each of you can’t get on with your lives, be decent parents and live a productive happy existence.”

April Power-Smith had already served eight months and 10 days in custody on remand for the carjacking, which Judge Lynch said was in excess of what he likely would have ordered she serve.

He reduced her sentence to 12 months as a result, suspended immediately, with her time in custody declared time served.

Shane Power-Smith was sentenced to 18 months’ jail with immediate parole eligibility.

his 10 months and 23 days of presentence custody was declared as time already served.

He hugged his sister goodbye in the dock before he was escorted back into custody, where he could then apply for parole.