Hooligan vigilante jailed for 430 days after ramming stolen car

A Brisbane vigilante who chased down a stolen car and T-boned it at an intersection north of the city has been slammed by a judge for the behaviour that landed him in prison.

Chadwick chased down a stolen car and rammed it at an intersection at Burpengary. Picture: File

A Queensland vigilante who chased down a stolen car and T-boned it at an intersection has been blasted for his “hooliganism”.

Judge Michael Burnett said the 30-year-old father could have avoided 430 days in prison and been present for the birth of his first child if he had simply called the police instead of engaging in the dangerous chase.

Stephen James Chadwick faced the Brisbane District Court on Tuesday where he was sentenced for a charge of dangerous driving committed at Burpengary, north of Brisbane, in September 2019.

Crown Prosecutor Edward Fleetwood played CCTV showing the collision just metres from the Burpengary Police Station.

In the footage, Chadwick is seen using his Nissan Navara to cross onto the wrong side of the road and ram the stolen Kia Cerrato allegedly driven by his friend’s ex-partner.

“There is a need for deterrence for people who may use their vehicles as weapons or as a means to stop other road users,” Mr Fleetwood said.

“Whatever concern the defendant may have had about that other vehicle, ramming them wasn’t the manner in which to address it.”

The court heard Chadwick was confronted by police days later over the incident and lied, telling them the other car had intentionally collided with him, despite security footage to the contrary.

Chadwick was charged and allowed bail but was later taken into custody in November 2021 for committing other offences while on bail. He has been on remand for 430 days.

Defence barrister Kerala Drew said her client made the “split second” decision to pursue the stolen car after it was driven past his home with the occupants beeping and waving to him.

“That in no way excuses my client’s behaviour but that’s the context in which he chose to make this foolish decision,” Ms Drew said.

She said Chadwick’s first child had been born while he was in custody and he had only been able to see the now one-year-old six times when she was taken to the prison for visits.

“He’s exceptionally remorseful,” Ms Drew said.

Judge Burnett said Chadwick’s attempts to deceive police were reflective of his “dishonest character” and described the incident as “hooliganism at its best”. He noted Chadwick had previously been disqualified from driving six times.

“It was not your role and not your position to take matters into your own hands,” he said.

“You could have quite comfortably gone to police to report the matter without any need for this behaviour on your part.”

Judge Burnett said Chadwick had served far more time behind bars than necessary but that was as a result of his own actions.

“You were taken into custody on 13 November 2021, that’s a good two years after these events occurred and you have been in custody continuously since that time,” he said.

“I hope that served to reinforce a couple of things in your mind, first not only the stupidity of your initial offending but also the consequences of your failure to abide with your bail conditions.

“That’s why you’re there, you’ve served far more time than you ought reasonably have had to serve and that is entirely your own fault.”

Chadwick was sentenced to 430 days of time already served and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.