Talia Maree Manton sentenced for kidnapping 17yo girl at Ballina
A Northern Rivers kidnapper who tempted a 17-year-old girl into a car, forced her to get out at a nearby town and tried to run her down while a co-offender chased her with an axe, has learnt her fate.
Police & Courts
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A Ballina kidnapper who tempted a 17-year-old girl into a car, forced her to get out at Lennox Head and tried to run her down while a co-offender chased her with an axe, has been sentenced to jail.
Talia Maree Manton faced Sydney Downing Centre District Court on Tuesday after being found guilty in a judge-alone trial in October of taking/detaining in company to get advantage causing actual bodily harm and robbery in company.
Judge Sarah Hopkins sentenced the 27-year-old to jail for four years and four months with a non-parole period of two years and two months.
Manton tempted a 17-year-old girl into a car by promising a fun trip to the coast and instead took her to Reflections Holidays car park, Ballina on March 20 last year.
The court had heard Manton parked while the co-offender jumped into the blue SUV’s back seat grasping a near-50cm long axe wearing a balaclava before the car took off.
The co-offender asked the victim: “Did you f--k my boyfriend?”
The teenager was accused of being caught “in the act” with the co-accused boyfriend two weeks prior, the court heard.
The co-offender struck the girl on the head with the back of the weapon and the teen was forced to hand over jewellery, clothes and shoes.
Manton told the girl to get out of the car at The Coast Rd, Lennox Head and then tried to run her down.
The co-offender also hopped out of the car and began chasing the teen with the axe, while Manton drove over a traffic island to try to run over the victim, the court heard.
A passing motorist stopped next to Manton’s car and asked what was happening. Manton told her the victim was suffering from drug psychosis.
However, the girl dashed to the bystander’s car and told the woman she had been robbed.
The witness drove the victim to Ballina police station, where statements and photographs of injuries were compiled.
NSW Police confirmed the unknown woman wielding the axe has still not been charged.
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