Debbie Jean Thompson pleads guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to public nuisance and driving without care

A 35-year-old mother who crashed her car into a power pole at a Roma intersection and then bashed a nearby pedestrian has faced court. Here’s what led to the terrifying incident.

Crowds watched on as a mother-of-three leapt from her moving car to attack a nearby pedestrian who she claimed stole from her elderly stepfather.

Debbie Jean Thompson faced Roma Magistrates Court on January 17 where she pleaded guilty in to driving without care and public nuisance.

Bystanders alerted police after they witnessed the 35-year-old crash into a power pole at an intersection before reversing 20m into the fence line of a Foott St address.

The court was told she then leapt out of the moving vehicle as her airbags deployed to attack a pedestrian.

When patrolling police officers arrived at the single-vehicle crash, Thomspon and the female pedestrian were on the ground engaged in a wrestle, the court was told.

Police performed a breath test on the defendant; however, it came back negative.

Originally from Ipswich, Thompson has served several stints in prison for public nuisance including six months in 2017 and most recently she was fined 12 months ago for similar offences.

“Ms Thompson has instructed me that she knew the person and they are before this court for charges against her stepfather,” defence lawyer Laurie Parker said.

“Her step father is 78-years-old and not in very good health.

“This doesn’t excuse Ms Thompson’s behaviour. With the car still moving and the airbags being released… she’s very lucky she didn’t kill herself or someone else in the way.”

Magistrate Shane Elliott said Thompson was lucky she wasn’t charged with the more serious offence of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

“Fighting in the street really, it’s just not something the community wants to tolerate. It’s not something they should have to,” he said.

The magistrate handed Thompson a two month prison sentence, wholly suspended for 12 months, for the public nuisance charge and fined her $500 and disqualified her licence for three months for the driving without care offence.

A conviction was recorded.