Logan man jailed after stealing car and running over owner

A man has been jailed after he stole a vehicle and ran over the owner, the incident captured on CCTV camera. SEE VIDEO

A Logan father-of-two who stole a ute and drove over a man trying to get it back in Brisbane’s bayside last year has been sentenced to six years’ jail.

Crown prosecutor Evan O’Hanlon-Rose told Brisbane District Court it was the worst example of the charge of dangerous operation of a vehicle he had seen.

Around lunchtime on August 16, 2020, Jaimie Anthony Loizou saw a man leave his keys in the ignition of his Toyota HiLux in the man‘s garage in Manly, Brisbane District Court heard.

Mr Loizou walked up the man‘s driveway, got into the car and reversed from the garage on to the road.

The car’s owner then ran out on to the road in an attempt to stop him.

Mr O’Hanlon-Rose told the court Mr Loizou made no effort to avoid the man and hit him head-on before continuing to drive over him.

The front wheel of the ute went over his back and the back wheel over his right leg.

Mr Loizou then drove away, the car was found and he was arrested days later.

The victim sustained multiple fractured ribs, a right shoulder blade fracture, multiple pelvic fractures and several cuts and bruises.

Crown prosecutor Evan O’Hanlon-Rose said it was extremely dangerous.

A CCTV still shows the man attempting to stop his ute being stolen.

“The defendant made no effort to avoid the collision and drove off after running over him,” Mr O’Hanlon-Rose told the court.

“This is, in my submission, is one of the worst examples of dangerous operation of a vehicle without grievous bodily harm.

“The offending must be strongly denounced and deterred.”

Mr Loizou, 25, pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and burglary.

He also had his license suspended absolutely.

Judge Ken Barlow said both the victim and Mr Loizou were very lucky, with the victim lucky to avoid major injury and Mr Loizou escaping without a more serious charge.

Judge Barlow referenced his previous four dangerous driving convictions, including when Mr Loizou drove at someone before braking and turning, narrowly avoiding the collision.

“You need to learn your lesson, you haven’t learnt it in the past, you need to learn the lesson,” Judge Barlow said.

“Get yourself off the drugs, keep yourself off the drugs, hopefully you’re not getting them in jail and get a decent job, work as a decent person and become a good father.”

Mr Loizou was sentenced to six years jail, but due to mitigating factors, such as an early guilty plea and 264 days already spent in custody, he will be released on parole on August 21, 2021.