Brock William Purnell faces court for ‘intentionally’ running over motorcyclist Michael Train

A dangerous driver smashed into the back of a motorcyclist on a major Brisbane motorway and then ran over his legs in an ‘unprovoked’ and ‘random’ attack.

Michael Train’s motorbike after the incident on the M1 in 2022.

A dangerous driver smashed into the back of a motorcyclist on a major Brisbane motorway and then ran over his legs in an “unprovoked” and “random” attack.

Motorcyclist Michael Train was riding home from work along the M1 motorway at Slacks Creek on April 6, 2022, when complete stranger Brock William Purnell drove straight into the back of his motorbike.

A court has heard how Mr Train was lucky to escape serious injury after “flying” off his motorcycle, and having his legs driven over “intentionally” by Purnell.

Purnell had first thrown rubbish out the window of his white Volkswagen towards Mr Train, before revving his engine and accelerating into the back of his motorbike, the Brisbane District Court heard at Purnell’s sentence on Tuesday.

The court heard Purnell wove through traffic and drove away after driving over Mr Train’s legs “intentionally”.

He was originally charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing grievous bodily harm and left the scene without rendering assistance – but the charge was replaced at his sentence with just dangerous operation of a vehicle.

The court heard Mr Train had suffered pain to his knee, foot, and hand – along with exacerbated pain to an existing shoulder injury – but he escaped with no fractures.

Mr Train, who attended Purnell’s sentence with his daughter, explained outside of court that the protective gear and steel capped boots he had been wearing at the time had saved him from more serious injuries.

“My background is motorbike racing, so if I hop on a motorbike I’ve got all my protective gear on,” Mr Train said.

Victim Michael Train

He said he was physically OK now nearly three years later, and “doing better” mentally.

“I’ve had my off days, I have my good days,” he said.

Judge William Everson said Mr Train’s victim impact statement outlined the “significant psychological consequences” he had suffered on top of the physical pain.

Defence barrister Kim Bryson told the court her client had been struggling to come to terms with the loss of a 14-year relationship at the time.

Purnell had spent some time in custody after the dangerous operation offence, and then committed a robbery offence in April last year while on bail, the court heard.

The court heard he had called a woman on April 4, 2024, asking for drugs – and then kicked down her door around 20 minutes later when she said she didn’t have any.

Judge Everson said Purnell had chased the woman into her bedroom, yelling at her, and armed himself with two large knives from her kitchen.

He said the woman followed Purnell to her car after he located her keys, and he threatened to stab her if she didn’t get out.

Purnell then committed a fuel drive off that same day, and stole number plates from Logan Hyperdome shopping centre.

Ms Bryson said her client had used drugs to cope with his granddad's death and “went off the rails” around the time of the robbery offending.

But she said he had a supportive family, along with realistic housing and job prospects upon his release from custody.

Purnell had spent a total of 697 days remanded in presentence custody at the time of his sentence, the court heard.

Michael Train has a background in motorcycle racing

He pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle, entering a dwelling by break in company with property damage, armed robbery in company with personal violence, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and two counts of stealing.

Judge Everson labelled Purnell’s actions as “callous” and said it was important to deter others from similar offences.

He sentenced Purnell to 18 months jail for the dangerous operation charge – which carries a maximum penalty of three years.

Purnell received an additional four-and-a-half years jail for the robbery offending, meaning he received a total sentence of six years in jail.

His 697 days in custody were declared time-served, and he was made immediately eligible for parole.

Mr Train told The Courier Mail outside court that he was frustrated that the aggravating circumstance of leaving the scene without rendering assistance had been dropped by the prosecution.

“Then they give him bail for him to offend again – and here he is,” Mr Train said.

He said he was “pretty sad” about the outcome of the sentence.

“There wasn’t anything (about the collision) that was accidental – it was purely intentional,” he said.

“There was no interaction with me whatsoever before the incident, no road rage.”

“It was completely unprovoked and random.”

Originally published as Brock William Purnell faces court for ‘intentionally’ running over motorcyclist Michael Train