Toowoomba man Aaron Bidgood sentenced after hitting police officer with stolen car

A Toowoomba man who hit a policewoman with a stolen car, weeks after being released from prison, has been jailed.

Aaron Trent Bidgood was sentenced in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on June 6, 2023 and again on October 10.

A court has been told a Toowoomba man was on parole and a suspended Supreme Court sentence when he crashed a stolen car through a fence, injuring a policewoman.

Magistrate Clare Kelly told Aaron Trent Bidgood he was very lucky the officer was not killed, and only sustained contusions and bruising to her legs.

The court was told the 29-year-old was released from jail weeks before the incident, which occurred at a Glenvale property on June 23, 2023.

The court was told officers attempted to arrest Bidgood on a warrant, however he took off and jumped through a number of residential yards before stealing a car.

In October 2023, Aaron Trent Bidgood pleaded guilty to 15 charges which included; the dangerous operation of a stolen car, assaulting a police officer, failure to stop at an incident, stealing cars, and drug charges.

Ms Kelly said the officer caught up with Bidgood, shut him in the yard, and demanded him to stop and get out of the car.

Despite a gun being levelled at him, Bidgood crashed through the fence and struck the officer’s legs.

He remained on the run for the next 14 days.

When officers arrested Bidgood on July 10 he was holed up in another stolen car at a Wilsonton address, however the court was told police were able to detain him.

Officers found meth, a syringe, and “cloned” number plates in the car.

Solicitor Claire Graham said Bidgood had difficulties at home as a teen, which resulted in the 12-year-old running away from home and turning meth, and later heroin and fentanyl.

She said Bidgood was managing his addiction in jail through a newly available Suboxone program.

Appearing from jail at the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday, October 10, Bidgood pleaded guilty to 15 charges which included the dangerous operation of a stolen car, assaulting a police officer, failure to stop at an incident, stealing cars, and drug charges.

Bidgood was sentenced to an eight-month jail term, and his parole eligibility was set to November 9.

His licence was also suspended for two years.

Originally published as Toowoomba man Aaron Bidgood sentenced after hitting police officer with stolen car