List of people who faced court over road rage incidents in Qld
From smashed windscreens to attacks over litter, there has been a string of road rage attacks in Queensland - here are some of the most shocking.
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From smashed windscreens to attacks over litter, there has been a string of shocking road rage attacks in Queensland in the past 12 months.
Here are some of the incidents that made headlines and left people fronting court.
CONVICTION RECORDED
Man jailed after road rage meltdown
A man was jailed for five months in May after he was caught on video breaking another driver’s nose by hitting him with a toy gun in a chaotic roadside fight, in which he also spit blood at a female bystander.
The footage shows a white van, with Jacob Bruno Leigh Taylor as passenger, deliberately swerving across the lane into another car in Rochedale South. Both cars pull over and Taylor, 37, exits the van with a large toy gun and runs towards the victim, hitting him in the head with it.
The two men start fighting on the side of the road and Taylor breaks the man’s nose before spitting blood at a female bystander who was filming the incident on her phone.
Two other men were involved in the fight.
The Browns Plains father of eight was jailed for 15 months, to serve five months of actual custody, in Beenleigh Magistrates Court.
He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and common assault for the April 3, 2022, road rage attack.
The court heard the male victim suffered a fractured nose, numerous bruises and required surgery.
The female bystander told the court she had to get multiple blood tests to make sure she had no diseases or infections from the spitting.
Taylor told the court he was a family man and worked as an underground coalminer.
Magistrate Terry Duroux said that this was a typical road rage incident and sentenced Taylor to 15 months’ imprisonment, to serve 5 months of actual custody.
He will be released on parole on October 10.
Littering row led to ‘brutal attack’
A steroid abusing tradie who tried to attack an elderly man after smashing up his car with a baseball bat was in April blasted by a judge over his “shameful” behaviour.
Will Warren, 22, narrowly avoided being jailed over the year-long spate of offending in which he was also caught in possession of cocaine for commercial purposes while on bail for other drug offences.
Security footage of a shirtless Warren using a baseball bat to shatter the windscreen and passenger window of the 72-year-old man’s sedan outside a Logan grocery store in November 2020 was played in the Brisbane Supreme Court.
In sentencing Warren, Justice Elizabeth Wilson said the video showed what a “frightening experience” the then-20-year-old had inflicted on the complainant more than 50 years his senior.
“Words cannot adequately describe your conduct on that day but the video that I have seen and that you have seen bears all,” she said.
The court heard the elderly man had called out Warren’s passenger for littering and when the woman refused to take the discarded rubbish, he placed it on the bonnet of the car.
Warren drove away and returned 10 minutes late, leaping out of his Mercedes sedan, taking a baseball bat from the back seat and raining blows on the elderly man’s car before trying to get inside.
The court heard Warren had been using steroids daily during the period of the attack.
Two weeks later, police raided Warren’s home where they found quantities of a number of drugs including ice and steroids.
He was arrested and spent 45 days in custody before being released on Supreme Court bail into a three-month residential rehabilitation program.
But months after his release and while still on bail in November 2021, Warren was again caught in possession of cocaine for commercial use.
Warren was given a head sentence of three years’ imprisonment with immediate parole, taking into account the 45 days he had already spent in custody.
He was ordered to pay his victim $1000 in compensation for the month-long loss of his car while it was repaired by his insurer.
Warren pleaded guilty to ten offences including five counts of possessing dangerous drugs and single charges of wilful damage and attempted unlawful entry of a motor vehicle.
Judge calls attack on car driver ‘abhorrent’
A mother and daughter in April warned they only narrowly avoided time behind bars after an “abhorrent” gang attack on another woman.
Kelly Davis, 45, and her two daughters Ziggy Davis, 26, and Karlia Davis, 20, were driving along Bermuda St, Bundall, on January 13, 2022, when another car sideswiped them. The impact tore off their car’s side mirror.
Southport Magistrates Court was told both vehicles pulled over to exchange details.
It was heard Karlia was the first to attack the other driver after a brief exchange, with Kelly grabbing the woman’s arm and yelling, “Let go of my daughter’s hair,” as the victim fought back.
Prosecutor Gavin Reece said Ziggy soon threw herself into the melee, punching the other woman several times and yanking at her hair.
The “abhorrent” assault was so violent that a clump of hair was ripped from the victim’s head, he told the court.
The victim was also unable to drive for weeks following the incident.
The court was told Karlia faced court in December, appearing with a minimal and unrelated criminal history. She was placed on 15 months’ probation with no conviction recorded.
Kelly’s defence lawyer Jodi Allen said the mother of five had beaten a long-term drug addiction and was now focused on improving her mental health and reconnecting with family.
Ms Roper said Ziggy was now in a stable relationship and working full-time, and hoped this would be her last appearance before the courts.
Kelly and Ziggy both pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm. They were each sentenced to six months’ jail, suspended for 12 months. The pair were also ordered to pay $1000 each in compensation to their victim.
‘I’ll kill you’: Road rage driver dodges jail
A man who tried to drag a 65-year-old driver from his car while violently beating him was in December 2022 told he was lucky to go home to his family after facing court.
Czar David Brown’s altercation with his victim was sparked when the older man hit Brown’s car from behind near the intersection of the Pacific Motorway and Tamborine Oxenford Rd on January 26, 2022.
Southport Magistrates Court was told an aggressive Brown approached his victim’s vehicle and wrenched open the driver’s door.
Police prosecutor Michael Vanderhelm said the 31-year-old tried to drag the man from his car, repeatedly punching him in the head and even threatening him with: ‘If you touch my car again, f..ker, I’ll kill you’.”
Brown’s victim was able to free himself and close his car door, prompting Brown to smash the windscreen.
The court was told the victim was left with minor injuries and an $807.40 damages bill.
Defence lawyer Ashkan Tai said Brown was “extremely embarrassed and extremely remorseful” for the attack and had since completed an anger management course.
Magistrate Mark Bamberry said Brown should have known the potential consequences the assault could have for his family after being jailed for past violent offending.
Brown pleaded guilty to one count each of serious assault of a person over 60 and wilful damage.
He was sentenced to eight months’ jail, wholly suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay $807.40 in restitution to his victim.
Road rage leads to prison for chef
A Maleny chef who reversed at speed towards a car carrying two children on a remote road at night and terrorised a man on another occasion was in December 2022 sentenced to jail time.
Alan James Stirrett, 40, pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle and two counts of threatening violence in Maroochydore District Court on December 6, 2022.
Crown prosecutor Sanaz Masoumi said that on October 30, 2020, Stirrett was driving along Maleny Montville Rd and started tailing a woman’s car with two young girls in the back seat.
She was driving about 70km/h in a 90km/h zone and pulled over to let Stirrett pass.
As Stirrett drove by, the woman flicked her lights and Stirrett suddenly stopped and reversed at speed towards her.
Ms Masoumi said this then forced the woman to reverse at speed to avoid a collision.
Stirrett then jumped out of his car and shouted as he walked towards the woman’s car before smacking the driver’s door with his palm. As the woman drove towards Maleny town, Stirrett caught up to her and tailed her again.
Stirrett also targeted another victim who was driving along Montville Flaxton Rd at 3.30am on June 7, 2020.
The man saw Stirrett driving a Ford Ranger and thought he was drink-driving as he was swerving and driving between 20km/h to 30km/h.
Judge Glen Cash said the offending was “appalling” and “intended to terrorise”.
Stirrett cried in court as he was sentenced to 18 months’ prison to serve six months and was disqualified from driving for two years.
NO CONVICTION
Road rage attack on elderly driver
A man left an 81-year-old with a fractured, bleeding nose and unable to drive himself anywhere for weeks after a shocking road rage attack on the Gold Coast in April.
Kyle William Dunn, 23, was seen driving erratically behind his victim’s car along Bayview St, Hollywell on the morning of October 27 last year.
Police prosecutor Nicole Conditsis told Southport Magistrates Court that Dunn repeatedly tried to swerve around the elderly man’s car, eventually overtaking him on the inside shoulder and stopping in front of him.
Sgt Conditsis said the 81-year-old approached the other vehicle when Dunn suddenly attacked, punching the older man in the face.
Paramedics were called to treat the victim’s bleeding and swollen nose. A medical certificate showed he suffered a displaced nasal fracture.
Dunn claimed the elderly man was the first to drive poorly when he later spoke with police, describing him as being a “complete and utter d**khead” that “almost f**king killed me”.
Parts of the 81-year-old’s victim impact statement were read to the court, speaking to the fear and anxiety he had struggled with since the assault and that his wife needed to drive him around for about three weeks afterwards.
Defence lawyer Erin Mitchell, of Potts Lawyers, said photos submitted to the court showed the older man was initially driving behind Dunn and crossed double white lines to force him to the side and overtake.
Acting magistrate Sarah Thompson said she could see Dunn made genuine attempts at rehabilitation, though it did not excuse his violent aggression.
Dunn pleaded guilty to one count of seriously assaulting a person over 60.
He was ordered to complete 100 hours’ unpaid community service, and to pay $1000 in compensation to his victim.
No conviction was recorded.
Man punches woman in road rage attack
A Gold Coast man punched a woman in the face through her car window in a shocking road rage incident just off the M1 in January.
Benjamin Douglas Robey collided with the back of his victim’s vehicle on the northbound ramp of the highway at Oxenford on the morning of September 27, 2022.
Southport Magistrates Court was told Robey drove around and stopped in front of the other car, with the woman staying in her vehicle and winding down her window to talk.
Prosecutor Gavin Reece said Robey suddenly became enraged, yelling “What the f**k!” and grabbing the woman by the hair.
He said the 33-year-old then punched his victim in the face and fled the scene.
The court was told Robey’s victim was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital for treatment to a cut and “significant bleeding” above her lip.
Police located Robey at Helensvale less than an hour later, finding him with a fresh cut to his right hand and extensive damage to the front end of his car.
Mr Reece said Robey confirmed he had been involved in a crash, but did not participate in an interview when he was later charged.
Defence lawyer Shelby Thompson said Robey’s volatile emotions stemmed from a number of mental health concerns including depression, chronic adjustment disorder, and an “explosive personality trait”.
She said Robey thought the woman was mocking him as he approached her car to exchange details.
Ms Thompson said the software engineer checked himself back into a mental health clinic a week after the crash and had since completed an anger management course.
Robey also offered $500 in compensation to his victim alongside a letter of apology.
Robey pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm.
He was placed on probation for 18 months and no conviction was recorded.
Drugs get blame for late-night tantrum
A Brisbane woman who “aggressively” damaged a stranger’s Audi before throwing chairs around a food court in December 2022 blamed her outburst on drug problems.
Kimberley Nunn, 32, pleaded guilty to wilful damage and public nuisance in Southport Magistrate’s Court after her late-night tantrum at an Upper Coomera service station.
Nunn attended the servo around 1.30am on September 29 after running out of fuel.
According to police she asked staff to call an ambulance as she was feeling unwell but, after the attendant did so, Nunn started to “verbally harass” customers.
Nunn proceeded to the carpark area where she spotted a man sitting in his Audi, approached him, and asked to borrow his phone to make a call. He refused.
“This has angered (Nunn) who has grabbed the windscreen wiper of the vehicle and snapped it off,” the prosecution said.
The victim got out of his car and an argument ensued, with the Audi driver making his way inside the service station in an attempt to get away from Nunn.
Nunn’s rage continued and she started throwing chairs around in the food court area inside the servo.
The defence, Cheonton Strickland of Howden Saggers Lawyers, pointed to Nunn’s drug problem as the reason for her seemingly random outburst.
The lawyer said Nunn had been on the road to recovery before a “slip up” with cannabis.
Magistrate Janie Crawford accepted Nunn’s offending was “out of character”.
Nunn was fined $500 for the offence.
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Originally published as List of people who faced court over road rage incidents in Qld
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