Man threw petrol can in ute with partner inside during terrifying ordeal

The Coffs Harbour man also threatened to “light the joint up” during the terrifying ordeal, a court heard.

Jeffrey Peterson pleaded guilty to charges of intimidation and drug possession in Coffs Harbour District Court (photo: Facebook).

A court has heard of the terrifying moment a woman, desperately attempting to flee from her enraged partner, suddenly smelled petrol and turned to see him throwing a jerry can in the ute.

He clung onto the tray of the ute as she attempted to drive away, before eventually falling off.

Jeffrey Peterson is now behind bars after being sentenced to 18-months jail in Coffs Harbour District Court over the horrific ordeal he inflicted on his ex partner on the night of August 14 last year.

Documents tendered to the court reveal the ordeal began in the afternoon when Peterson, then aged 31, was assaulted outside the former couple’s Coffs Coast unit and was left bleeding on his face and arm. His partner rushed him to hospital and he was discharged later in the night.

Jeffrey Peterson has been sentenced to jail in Coffs Harbour District Court. Photo Leigh Jensen / Coffs Coast Advocate

While back at home Peterson grew agitated, blaming his partner for the assault and complaining there was “no Red Bull” in the house.

The victim then went into the bedroom and took her phone out to call police, before Peterson grabbed her by the arm and wrestled her to the ground.

She managed to escape with her phone and ran to the car, locking all the doors. She told the court she could then smell petrol and looked over her shoulder to see Peterson throw a red jerry can into the tray of her ute.

She panicked and reversed, as he clung onto to the tray. She then drove forward and he fell off, and she fled to her father’s house and called police.

While she was speaking to police the court heard Peterson sent her numerous texts, threatening that he was going to “light the joint up.”

“I’m loosing [sic] it … there will be nothing left in exactly 30 minutes,” he wrote.

“The entire joint.”

Jeffrey Peterson has been jailed after pleading guilty to charges of intimidation and drug possession in Coffs Harbour District Court (photo: Facebook).

Police found an empty red jerry can in the tray of the ute, and an examination showed it contained traces of petrol. Detectives said the tray itself smelled of petrol however it was not analysed as it had been raining.

When officers went to arrest Peterson at the unit the court heard he picked up a small amount of cannabis that was in his bedroom and asked if he could smoke it.

During an interview he told officers he spilt the petrol by accident. He however later admitted that he had intended to scare the victim and cause her mental harm by deliberately putting petrol in the tray, and by threatening to burn down her property.

The court heard Peterson was on bail at the time for common assault, and had a previous conviction for malicious damage.

He pleaded guilty in Coffs Harbour District Court to charges of intimidation and drug possession over the incident.

Judge Jonathan Priestley sentenced him to jail for 18 months with a non parole period of 10 months. He will be eligible for parole in June due to time served.