Mitchell Blake Reid sentenced in Ballina Local Court for screwdriver carjacking attempt

A Northern Rivers man with drug issues and poor mental health has been penalised after he armed himself and asked a woman if he could steal her car in an odd Ballina carjacking attempt. Here’s the latest.

Ballina Courthouse. Picture: Savannah Pocock

A Ballina man with “long standing drug issues” and poor mental health has been sentenced after he armed himself with a screwdriver and asked a woman if he could steal her car while he was off his medication.

Mitchell Blake Reid, 30, faced Ballina Local Court through audiovisual link from custody on Thursday, after the bizarre carjacking attempt outside a Woolworths supermarket at Ballina about 6.30pm on June 19.

Reid pleaded guilty to intimidation, having a screwdriver – a weapon – in a public place, possessing a knife in public, hindering a police officer and possessing prohibited drugs.

The 30-year-old took a screwdriver out of a bag and ran in front of a car on River St, police state in court documents.

The woman driving the car had to brake suddenly to avoid hitting Reid, who was “waving the screwdriver around”.

She wound down a window a little, concerned because Reid “was acting quite erratic”.

Reid was acting erratically with a screwdriver

Reid pointed the screwdriver at the woman and requested: “Can I steal your car?”

The woman told Reid that was not going to happen. He responded by asking her where he could steal a car from.

She drove off and reported the incident to police, no doubt quite baffled by the odd incident.

Police found Reid near the Woolworths, disarmed and arrested him and took him to Ballina Police Station.

“Yeah, I stopped the car. I asked her to help me steal a car. I know it would have scared her,” he told officers.

Ballina Woolworths on River St. Picture: Google Maps.

Reid was granted conditional bail, which he breached on August 11 when he was arrested for carrying a knife and possessing drugs.

The documents state police were called to Ballina Council Chambers after a cleaner saw Reid in a green hoodie, blue face mask and backpack seemingly trying to break in through the back door.

Reid was walking down River St when police stopped him. He became “verbally aggressive and began shouting obscenities”, police documents state.

“The accused was fidgeting uncontrollability and rambling at speed … his pupils were highly dilated and he was sweating profusely,” the documents state.

Police asked Reid if he had any sharp objects. He confirmed he had a needle and he removed a syringe from his pocket along with a small resealable bag containing a crystal clear substance – found to be 0.4g of methamphetamines.

Officers also found a Victorinox knife and cannabis buds (4.1g) wrapped in aluminium foil.

Police found a Victorinox Knife. File image.

When police asked Reid why he had a knife he said: “I use it to protect myself”.

The documents state Reid shouted at customers outside Hey Lady Diner: “Those f--king c--ts down there are the ones drinking and doing drugs”.

Reid thrashed against police as he was taken to the caged section of the police van.

Defence lawyer Rebecca Witchard told the court Reid had already spent 27 days behind bars on remand and the drugs were for personal use.

“He has long standing drug issues and has spent time in Lismore Adult Mental Health Unit in hospital,” she said.

“During the offending, he wasn’t taking his medication and he is now engaged with a psychiatrist.”

Magistrate Karen Stafford accepted Reid was facing issues with drugs and his mental health and said those struggling mentally find it especially tough in custody.

“Given your mental health conditions, jail isn’t the only option,” she said

Ms Stafford convicted Reid and he was sentenced to a two-year community corrections order.