Ryan Mitchell Bowman in court for robbery, sexual assault

During a wild night in which a man’s car was stolen at knifepoint, a young man sexually assaulted a woman in the back seat.

Hervey Bay court. Photo: Tracey Joynson

A man was a “sidekick” to his co-accused on a wild night in Hervey Bay where the two took a friend’s car at knifepoint, a court has heard.

Ryan Mitchell Bowman pleaded guilty to sexual assaults, robbery and unlawful use of a motor vehicle when he faced Hervey Bay District Court.

The court heard along with his co-offender, Damian Bashford, 26, Bowman got into the car of a friend who was doing lifts for cash.

There had been a woman in the back seat of the car, the court was told.

Bowman was in the back seat with her and tried to kiss her, then groped her.

Judge Michael Burnett told Bowman she had not responded in a positive way and he could not have thought she was consenting.

Also that night, Bashford had noticed a gold stiletto knife in the car and agreed to buy it from the victim, according to court documents from his sentencing.

The victim stopped at the United Service Station at Urraween to get fuel.

While he was paying, Bashford spoke to another motorist he knew who was at a nearby pump filling up his vehicle, telling him “we’re going to rob these c----”, the court documents read.

The other man asked why and Bashford replied “because we can”.

When the victim walked back to his vehicle, Bashford told him “give me your f------ keys now otherwise I’ll stab you c---”.

The victim, thinking Bashford was joking said, “it’s my car, you’re not taking my keys”.

Bashford put the knife closer to the victim’s stomach, the documents read, and said “hurry up c--- or I’ll stab you, do you think I’m f------ joking?”

At that point Bowman had tried to intervene, the court heard, telling Bashford not to do it.

But ultimately he victim handed over his keys and Bowman got into the car with Bashford and the two accelerated out of the petrol station while spinning and burning the tyres, according to the court documents.

The victim asked the petrol station attendant to call police then sat in the other motorist’s vehicle waiting for officers to arrive.

Damian Bashford, 26, pleaded guilty to armed robbery, dangerous operation of a vehicle, attempted unlawful entry of a vehicle and going armed to case fear when he faced Hervey Bay District Court.

After two minutes, Bashford and Bowman returned, skidding along the road as they approached then did a handbrake turn and skidded to a stop at the police station.

When he got out of the vehicle, Bashford yelled towards the victim and the other man: “I know where you live c---, you’re dead”, the documents read.

Bashford approached the vehicle and the victim held the door closed as Bashford tried to enter.

The motorist then reversed away from the area as Bashford and Bowman punched and kicked the car, causing damage, according to the court documents.

Bashford then followed them in the victim’s car, trying to pursue the vehicle, but returned to the petrol station after he hit a road reflector.

Bashford tried to kick the doors in, according to the documents, then told the attendant inside, “Come outside, you’re next, you’re next”.

He then stabbed the window with the knife before returning to the car.

Hearing police sirens, Bashford ran to the rear of the petrol station where police arrested him.

Bashford later claimed to have no recollection of events.

Bashford was sentenced to three years in prison with a parole release date of February 19, 2023.

During Bowman’s sentencing, the court heard Bashford had been the main offender, but that the then-21-year-old had “provided support” to his co-accused.

He had the support of his mother and partner in court and he had the prospect of employment.

Judge Burnett told Bowman that Bashford was “not the sort of person you ought to be hanging around with”.

He said Bowman had been Bashford’s “sidekick”.

Bowman was given a head sentence of two years in prison, suspended immediately for three years.