Alan James Stirrett in court for Maleny, Montville road rage incidents

A hinterland chef and father shed tears as he was sentenced for an “appalling” string of road rage incidents where one of his victims thought he was waving a gun.

Alan James Stirrett. Picture: Aisling Brennan

A Maleny chef who reversed at speed towards a car carrying two children on a remote road at night and terrorised a man on another occasion will spend the next six months behind bars.

Alan James Stirrett, 40, pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle and two counts of threatening violence in Maroochydore District Court on December 6, 2022.

Crown prosecutor Sanaz Masoumi said on October 30, 2020, Stirrett was driving along Maleny Montville Rd and started tailing a woman’s car with two young girls in the back seat.

She was driving about 70km/h in a 90km/h zone and pulled over to let Stirrett pass.

As Stirrett drove by, the woman flicked her high beams and Stirrett suddenly stopped and reversed at speed towards her.

Ms Masoumi said this then forced the woman to reverse her car at speed to avoid a collision.

“He did the same act again so the complainant also did the same,” Ms Masoumi said.

“At that stage the two girls were screaming and crying in the back seat.”

Stirrett then jumped out of his car and shouted loudly as he walked towards the woman’s car before smacking the driver’s side door with his palm.

Stirrett had blocked the lane but she managed to manoeuvre around him and drove away.

As the woman drove towards Maleny town, Stirrett caught up to her and tailed her again.

She tried to make a series of turns to lose him but he continued to follow her until she drove into the Emergency driveway at the Maleny Hospital and horned for staff to help.

Ms Masoumi told the court Stirrett lingered around the hospital for a while before he drove off.

Stirrett also targeted another victim who was driving along Montville Flaxton Rd at 3.30am on June 7, 2020.

The man saw Stirrett driving a Ford Ranger and thought he was drink driving as he was swerving and driving between 20km/h to 30km/h.

After the man overtook Stirrett, they caught up to each other in Montville town and Stirrett drove next to him on the wrong side of the road to overtake him.

When they reached Maleny Montville Rd Stirrett threw glass bottles and cans of alcohol out the driver’s window.

Ms Masoumi said the man flicked on his high beams and slowed down to let Stirrett drive ahead of him but as they neared an intersection, Stirrett blocked the lane with his car.

“The defendant jumped out of his car with his hand behind his back and as he walked towards the complainant he swung his arm out and pulled out what the complainant believed was a pistol or a taser and yelled at him ‘you’re dead’,” she said.

“It effectively terrified him because he thought he was holding a real gun.”

Defence barrister Nathan Turner said his client accepted that he possessed an object that looked like a gun.

Mr Turner said Stirrett’s references attested to him being a respectful, kind and generous person and a skilled chef and hard worker.

Stirrett had also witnessed a fatal crash that caused him to abstain from alcohol and undergo counselling.

Judge Glen Cash said the offending was “appalling” and “intended to terrorise”.

Stirrett cried in court as he was sentenced to 18 months’ prison to serve six months and was disqualified from driving for two years.