John Paul Sullivan jailed for punching young girl in face, stealing luxury cars

A man who punched a teenage girl in the face also stole luxury cars from Roma homes, one of which he was driving when it was involved in a head-on collision, flipping another car.

A Roma man been jailed after he not only punched a 13-year-old girl in the face but also stole two luxury cars, one of which was later involved in a head-on collision.

Appearing via video link from jail John Paul Sullivan pleaded guilty in the Roma Magistrates Court to 16 offences.

Magistrate Peter Saggers told the court the 22-year-old attempted to steal a Mercedes Benz from a Roma residence in July.

“You entered the car because it had keyless entry but the woman who owned it woke up, heard the engine start and banged on the window before seeing three people inside the car before running away,” he said.

Later that month, Sullivan was in Charleville and got involved in an “organised fight” that involved his younger sister.

Sullivan punched a 13-year-old girl in the face after she argued with his sister.

Police prosecutor Barry Stevens said the young girl suffered significant injuries and noted Sullivan was quite a “strong-looking” man.

Sullivan continued his crime-spree streak and broke into Caltex Roma in early August and attempted to enter the safe, however ran away after the alarm went off.

On August 9 he stole an iPhone and bank cards from a work van that was parked outside a Luff Street residence, later using the cards to purchase cigarettes, the court heard.

His Honour noted the most serious of offences was on August 9 when he went to a Wheeler Street residence and stole a Toyota Landcruiser.

“The vehicle was driven dangerously and was involved in a head-on and caused significant damage to the other vehicle which flipped,” Mr Saggers said.

“You ran away.”

He was also found with a glass pipe and straw used to take illicit drugs.

Sullivan pleaded guilty to two counts of public nuisance, three of obstruct police, two each of fraud and enter premises with intent, and one each of contravene direction of police, possess property suspected of being used in the commission of a drug offence, possessing utensils, assault occasioning bodily harm, enter premises and commit indictable offence and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He was jailed for 12 months, but will be released on parole on December 11.