Robert Roy Clark jailed for dangerous operation of a vehicle after pleading guilty in Toowoomba Magistrates Court to 2020 incident

A 27-year-old chased a vehicle for more than five minutes before ramming it multiple times, with dashcam footage capturing the incident and the man telling his passenger ‘I’ll ram it I’m in the f---ing mood now’.

A Toowoomba man has been jailed for a terrifying road rage incident that saw him ram a vehicle multiple times after a pursuit through the city’s streets.

Dashcam footage played to Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday revealed Robert Roy Clark was behind the wheel of his Nissan Patrol, equipped with a bullbar, on February 21, 2020 when he saw a Kia hatchback drive past an intersection.

Recognising the vehicle and occupants as people known to him, the dashcam footage captured the then 25-year-old pursue the vehicle for up to five minutes, driving dangerously close to the rear of the vehicle and honking the horn.

After chasing the vehicle through South Toowoomba’s streets the dashcam footage captured Clark telling his passenger “I’ll ram it, I’m in the f---ing mood now”, and “who’s the tough c--- now”.

Eventually the two vehicles found were on Neil Street when the Kia approached a roundabout and slowed to take the corner, with Clark’s Nissan colliding into the rear of the car he was pursuing.

The footage captured a passenger get out of the rear of the Kia and throw a projectile at the Nissan, cracking its windshield.

Clark then rammed into the back of the Kia, causing severe damage, before mounting the footpath, driving towards two of the vehicle’s occupants who had got out, forcing them to take evasive action.

The footage then showed Clark T-boning the Kia and fleeing the scene.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Natalie Bugden said the dashcam footage revealed that Clark was in a “heightened state” at the time of the incident and had gave consideration to ramming the vehicle.

In court Clark pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle.

Clark’s solicitor Dan Creevey Jnr said his client had “turned a corner” since the offence had taken place, with the father of three co-operating with police to provide them the footage of the incident.

Mr Creevey said his client was remorseful for what happened, and while he admitted his client had been in the past “immature and reckless” was wanting to contribute to society.

Describing the dangerous driving as an “extremely concerning offence” magistrate Kay Philipson found that Clark had formed an intent to ram the vehicle after pursuing it for some distance, and that it was lucky no-one was injured or killed.

“You endangered the lives of the people in the other vehicle, your passenger and other road users, there was the significant potential for injury as a result of your behaviour,” the magistrate said.

Clark was jailed for two years, with a parole release date set at February 24, 2023. He was also disqualified from holding a driver’s licence for two years.

Originally published as Robert Roy Clark jailed for dangerous operation of a vehicle after pleading guilty in Toowoomba Magistrates Court to 2020 incident