Police RBT crash: Driver who injured officers granted bail
THE young driver of a car which ploughed into police at a RBT stop, severing the foot of one officer and injuring another, has been granted bail.
NSW
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THE young driver of a car which ploughed into police at a RBT stop, severing the foot of one officer and injuring another, has been granted bail.
Jakob Thornton, 22, appeared before the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday following his arrest in February after he allegedly was distracted by texting when he drove his Fiat van into two officers at a road side breath test on Campbelltown Road, Leumeah at 8.20pm on Friday, February 16.
Justice Peter Hamill granted the young driver bail, telling the court he had excellent community support and had complied with previous driving suspensions imposed on him by the Roads and Maritime Services.
Thornton was allegedly distracted because he was sending a text on his mobile when he crashed into Senior constables Jonathon Wright and Matthew Foley.
A court had previously heard Thornton admitted to looking at his phone for between 10 and 20 seconds before he allegedly hit the two officers
Appearing via audiovisual link from jail, Thornton appeared nervous throughout proceedings.
Thornton already had four court ordered licence suspensions and was banned from driving in 2016 for using his mobile phone while behind the wheel.
He is charged with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and cause bodily harm by misconduct in charge of motor vehicle as well as a charge of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and driver use mobile phone when not permitted.
Snr Constable Wright’s injuries were so severe he had his foot amputated 15cm up his leg, a police fact sheet said.
Snr constable Foley suffered a fractured leg.
As part of his bail conditions Thornton will be required to live with his partner at a Bankstown home, report to Bankstown Police station every Monday, is prohibited from driving and is to be of good behaviour.
His mother, Katja Thornton, supported her son in court on Thursday shedding tears of relief when Justice Hamill granted bail.
She is required to pay $5000 surety as part of the bail conditions which will be surrendered if her son fails to show up for his next court date.
Defence lawyer Joseph Klarica told the court his client had been displaying symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder while in jail and was scheduled to see a psychiatrist if released.
In granting bail Justice Hamill dismissed prosecution concerns Thornton would fail to appear before court on the next occassion while also revealing the young man had previously been convicted of assault.
“The reality is whilst he is a young man he has a fairly bad traffic record but it is always been the case that when his licence has been suspended he has abided by those restrictions,” Justice Hamill told the court.
“He has once been convicted assault occasion actual bodily harm in 2015 but ultimately that conviction was overturned on appeal and he was given section 10 bond.
“He has affidavits from his mother and sister and a potential employer on the northern beaches. He has excellent community support.”
Justice Hamill conceded Thornton’s charges were serious and were likely to result in a custodial sentence if he is found guilty but justified his release on bail due to concerns about the length of time before Thornton was likely to face a committal hearing.
Thornton’s mother would not speak to the waiting media on her sons release as she left court heading straight across the road to the NSW Supreme Court registry to post bail.
Thornton is next scheduled to appear before Campbelltown Local Court in May.
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