Ahli Jeffrey Barba sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court after being tasered on the bonnet of a police vehicle

A man had to be tasered in a dramatic arrest after jumping on the bonnet of a police car at an NQ servo. Here’s what kicked off his violent offending.

Ahli Jeffrey Barba sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court after being tasered on the bonnet of a police vehicle Picture: Richard Walker

A man involved in a string of dramatic offences had to be tasered while he was standing on the bonnet of a police car in North Queensland at the start of this year.

Ahli Jeffrey Barba appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court on Friday via video link, after he was arrested at a service station in Ayr.

Police prosecutor Catherine Elkins told the court on February 9 this year the 21-year-old and his partner stole a car from a residence that was later spotted at a BP petrol station.

She said police blocked the car either side with their own vehicles to deter the man from leaving when he began to accelerate and drive up into a garden bed and attempted to drive through a corrugated iron-made fence.

Ms Elkins said the man made further attempts to ditch police but failed, and the officers shattered the car windows and took the car keys.

The court was told the man climbed through the car window and onto the roof of the stolen car before jumping on the bonnet of the police vehicle and had to be tasered after ignoring police requests to get down.

He was also found to be in possession of 0.29g of methamphetamine.

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Ms Elkins told the court less than two months prior to the dramatic arrest, on Christmas Day he was charged with assaulting a woman after the pair got into an argument and he punched her in the face causing a split lip.

The woman ran out onto the street screaming for help before a nearby resident contacted police.

Defence lawyer Mikaila Ward from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Legal Services said while behind bars her client had completed a certificate two in hospitality and was on the wait list to complete other courses.

“He’s kept himself busy and productive while incarcerated,” she said.

“He’s hoping to be released to the farm as there’s more opportunity for education and employment.”

She also clarified that the offending occurred while he was on drugs and had struggled with methamphetamine use.

Acting magistrate Fredericks acknowledged the man’s efforts for rehabilitation while behind bars when sentencing him.

Barba pleaded guilty to 10 charges including serious assault of police, dangerous operation of vehicle, unlawful use of vehicle, assault occasioning bodily harm, stealing, wilful damage and possessing drugs.

He was sentenced to nine months’ jail with an immediate parole eligibility date and disqualified from driving for six months.

He was also ordered to pay restitution of $2684 for repairing the fence damaged at the service station.

Originally published as Ahli Jeffrey Barba sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court after being tasered on the bonnet of a police vehicle