Ilyas Arsalan: Stanhope Gardens man jailed for driving into three people

A drug and booze-fuelled teenager who ran down his neighbour and two others in a suburban dispute has told a court he only meant to scare the victim.

A drug and booze-fuelled teenager who ran down his neighbour and two others in a suburban dispute has told a court he only meant to scare the victim.

Ilyas Arsalan, 20, appeared before Penrith District Court on Monday to be sentenced for the attack which left his neighbour with a number of fractures, three surgical operations and a year-long recovery.

On the day of the incident in November 2020, the neighbour asked Arsalan’s father to stop his son “dealing drugs” around the property.

Ilyas Arsalan. Picture: Kate Lockley

In response, the then 19-year-old told the neighbour, over the fence, to “say it to my face”.

The neighbour emerged from his property holding a golf club and walked to the door of the Toyota Corolla Arsalan was sitting in.

The Stanhope Gardens man, who at the time was under the influence of cannabis, alcohol and xanax, gave evidence to the court he panicked.

“When I saw a person with a long shining object, I didn’t know it was a golf club, I thought it was a blade,” he said.

“I was scared and wanted to get out of the situation but I was hoping he’d get scared and move out of the way when I accelerated. I didn’t think it would end up this way.”

Arsalan drove the car into the neighbour and knocked him to the floor, causing the injuries which the court heard would lead to early osteoarthritis.

The court heard the 20-year-old initially drove away but forgot he had left a friend at the property, so made a U-turn.

He then drove the car into two other people, a man and a woman, connected to the neighbour.

Arsalan gave evidence he regretted his decision.

“I returned to the scene because I feared for the safety of my friend … I understand that I made the wrong call. No one should have to go through that and I am extremely sorry and take full responsibility for my actions that night,” he said.

The young adult told the court he had plans to turn his life around and start a business.

“Being in this place has given me a long time to think and construct building blocks and foundations for a better future,” he said. “I know I’ll do everything I can so I don’t come back to this place.

“I’d like to work as a forklift driver, save money and buy a van to deliver parcels. Then, I’d like to expand it to a franchise.”

The court also heard at the time of the incident, Arsalan was going through relationship issues and was in conflict with an abusive parent.

Judge Sophia Beckett took into account Arsalan’s youth, difficult home life and substance abuse before handing down a sentence.

“Although he’s not a juvenile, he’s not far past it so there’s an element of impulsivity which is categorised by the offence. Rehabilitation is an important factor,” she said.

Arsalan was convicted of three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and use weapon to commit an indictable offence and was sentenced to three years and six months jail.

He will be eligible for parole in December.