Dad missed daughter’s birth while in jail following ice binge

A father-to-be had not slept in a month when he tried to flee police, dragging one of the officers at speed from a car, a court has heard.

A young dad said he was on an ice binge when he dragged a police officer 3m from a car.

A father-to-be on a month-long ice binge dragged a police officer 3m from a moving car, Caboolture Magistrates Court has heard.

Mitchell Tomlin, 23, had not slept in a month while on an ice bender when he refused to stop a car while a police officer “hung on for dear life” through a window.

The court heard police had visited a home at Deception Bay on January 10 to investigate suspicious cars when Tomlin tried to drive away in a Holden Commodore.

Magistrate Andrew Hackett heard Tomlin had been reversing the car – despite being on a two-year driving disqualification – when the officer reached in a window to stop him. However Tomlin continued to reverse at speed, dragging the officer 3m before he was able to let go.

“If he had let go ... the vehicle is going to go over him,” Magistrate Hackett said.

“The police officer was basically hanging on for dear life.

“(You were a) danger to a police officer who was just doing his job ... he wants to go home to his family too, remember.”

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The court heard Tomlin, who had been arrested for a number of offences, had spent 134 days in custody awaiting sentence and had missed the birth of his first child as a result.

“Aren’t you a mug, sir?” Magistrate Hackett said.

“I’m not having a shot at you (but you missed) the only time your daughter will be born.”

The court heard Tomlin had been on an ice bender for a month and, on the day of the offence, had for the first time taken the drug fantasy.

His defence said the drug had caused Tomlin to black out and not recall the incident.

He had however written a letter of apology to the officer involved – who had bruised and cut his arm during the commotion – and said he had not intended to injure him.

Tomlin, who the defence said had spent “most of his adult life in and out of custody”, had started taking drugs when he was 14 while living with a friend and his father.

The court heard Tomlin was coaxed into committing crimes in exchange for free drugs and had suffered from a variety of mental health conditions.

He pleaded guilty to the serious assault of the police officer and was sentenced to 12 months jail but was issued immediate parole, having already served some four months behind bars.

He was also sentenced to nine months jail for the unlawful use of a motor vehicle and attempting to enter premises, three months jail for receiving tainted property, as well as seven days jail for stealing wilful damage, possessing dangerous drugs and breaching bail.