Peter Francis Cassidy: Gold Coast man, 39, jailed for carjacking teen Domino’s driver at Mermaid Beach

A Gold Coast electrician who fell on hard times has carjacked a pizza delivery driver, slammed into a passing motorist, and abandoned his stolen car outside a police station. FULL STORY

Gold Coast man Peter Francis Cassidy, 39. Picture: Facebook

A drug-addicted Gold Coast electrician who fell on hard times has learnt his fate after carjacking a 17-year-old Domino’s delivery driver, slamming into a passing motorist, and abandoning his stolen wheels outside a police station.

Peter Francis Cassidy, 39, who was at no fixed address at the time of the offending having been kicked out of his dad’s place after a Police Protection Notice was issued, appeared in Southport District Court on Friday.

He pleaded guilty to unlawful entry of a vehicle for the purpose of committing an indictable offence with violence, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and dangerous operation of a vehicle.

All offences were committed on May 27 last year.

At about 7.30pm, the 17-year-old victim, a delivery driver for Domino’s Mermaid Beach, was sitting in the company car outside the outlet when Cassidy wrenched open the door while shouting aggressively, the court heard.

The Domino's Mermaid Beach delivery vehicle stolen by Peter Francis Cassidy, 39. Picture: 9News Gold Coast

The defendant pushed the teenager, hauled him out of the vehicle via his clothes, pushed the teen again, then made off with the car, which had Domino’s branding.

He drove at speed to Palm Beach, colliding with the rear of another vehicle on Philippine Pde and pushing it into the gutter, before abandoning his stolen wheels outside the Palm Beach Police Station on the Gold Coast Hwy.

Cassidy was discovered a short time later sitting at a nearby bus stop, where he was arrested and remanded in custody.

Crown prosecutor Amelia Baker-Smith told the court Cassidy had a criminal history, predominantly for drug and property-related offending, dating back to 2005.

The Palm Beach Police Station, outside which Peter Francis Cassidy, 39, dumped his stolen wheels. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Relevantly, he was sentenced in February 2023 for offences including going armed in public and assault occasioning bodily harm.

At the time of the current offending, Cassidy was subject to two probation orders and on bail for unrelated offending, which remains before the courts.

He had also been sentenced for breaching court orders just two days before the current rampage.

Defence counsel Andrew Smith told the court his client, a qualified electrician, began spiralling after suffering a workplace injury at the age of 30, leading to difficulties holding down a job and substance abuse.

Mr Smith described his client’s offending as “unsophisticated”, noting the stolen Domino’s vehicle stood out like a sore thumb, the carjacking was in a well-lit area in full view of CCTV cameras, and he made no attempt to flee after dumping the car outside the police station.

Judge Jodie Wooldridge KC described Cassidy’s actions towards the teen delivery driver as “frightening and intimidating” and remarked it was lucky nobody was injured during his erratic journey up the coastline.

She sentenced him to two years imprisonment, with release on parole after eight months.

With time served, Cassidy will be released shortly, on Australia Day.

Originally published as Peter Francis Cassidy: Gold Coast man, 39, jailed for carjacking teen Domino’s driver at Mermaid Beach