Salisbury North man Kieron Blundell jailed for stealing car with baby inside outside Clearview shop

He was high on meth and heroin when he stole a horrified mother’s car with her sleeping baby from an Adelaide pet store – now this man has been jailed.

A Salisbury North man has been jailed after a terrifying ordeal when he stole a car from outside a Clearview pet shop, unaware a baby was asleep in the back seat.

Kieron James Blundell, 39, appeared in the District Court on Friday before Judge Paul Muscat for sentencing after pleading guilty to one count of robbery.

In July 2023, Blundell – under the influence of meth and heroin – stole a car belonging to Elizabeth Eastwood and, despite her pleading with him to stop, left the scene with 18-month-old baby Arli asleep in the back.

Kieron Blundell has been jailed for stealing a car with a baby inside it while high on meth and heroin. Picture: Facebook

Judge Muscat accepted Blundell did not know a baby was inside the car, but acknowledged the incident would have been horrific for Ms Eastwood who, throughout the robbery, was shouting: “My baby’s in the car”, before she fell and hit her head on the bitumen.

“I could only imagine the panic and fear Ms Eastwood must have felt when you stole her car with her child in it,” he said. “For the next 45 minutes, she would have feared the worst.

“You heard for yourself the impact your offending behaviour has had on Ms Eastwood.

“It was never your intention to abduct the child – you took the opportunity that presented itself to drive off in a car that was left running in the carpark, and which you believed was unoccupied.”

Baby Arli reunited with his dad. Picture: 7NEWS

Police tracked the car with Ms Eastwood’s mobile phone and found it 20 minutes later at Rowe Circuit in Walkley Heights.

At his last appearance, defence counsel for Blundell told the court his client abandoned the car after the discovery of the baby, “but did wait in a park nearby unbeknown to police until they arrived”.

On Friday, Judge Muscat noted Blundell’s “extensive criminal record” and sentenced him to three years, five months and 12 days imprisonment with a non-parole period of two years and three months – backdated to October 30, 2023.

“You have finally come to the realisation that you cannot continue living this life – the life you have lived for so many years,” Judge Muscat said.

“You have asserted that you now have a clear head and are determined to do something to address your many life issues.

“You hope to begin your journey to recovery and not repeat your past lapses. Only time will tell if you can sort yourself out.”

Originally published as Salisbury North man Kieron Blundell jailed for stealing car with baby inside outside Clearview shop