Failed go-kart thief Allan Simpson jailed for Illawarra train crash

A habitual offender has been sentenced for his “stupid” actions that saw a failed go-kart heist cause a train crash near Kembla Grange, costing taxpayers $8m.

Allan Martin Simpson caused a train derailment in October, 2021. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW

A jailbird whose botched go-kart heist caused a “catastrophic” before-dawn train derailment in the Illawarra last year has been locked up until at least 2024.

Allan Martin Simpson fronted Wollongong District Court on Thursday via video link where he adhered to his guilty pleas in relation to the life-threatening incident on Wednesday, October 20, which cost Transport for NSW nearly $8m.

The charges against the 47-year-old included committing a s114 offence with a previous conviction, larceny of more than $5000, endangering the safety of passengers on a railway, causing an obstruction to a railway locomotive and two counts of destroying or damaging property – one of a value in excess of $15000.

Judge Andrew Haesler hit Simpson with a prison sentence of four years and six months with a non-parole period of two years and six months.

Documents tendered in court state Simpson agreed to purchase a go-kart for $3000 from the Wollongong Kart Raceway just days before the derailment.

However, he staged a brazen heist under the cloak of darkness with his actions caught on security cameras positioned at Kembla Grange Station.

Simpson used bolt cutters to enter the facility before pushing the go-kart through the fence and onto an embankment adjacent to the tracks.

Allan Martin Simpson was sentenced in Wollongong District Court on Thursday. Source: NSW Police

The documents stated Simpson went and repositioned the security cameras at the station with a stick before driving his partner‘s Nissan Elgrand onto the tracks to collect the go-kart.

However, the vehicle got stuck with a pair of wheels elevated from the ground.

The crook hailed down a passer-by to try and assist him by saying “I’ve got my car stuck on the railway track, can you drive down and nudge me off”.

After a couple of unsuccessful manpower pushes, the passer-by went to call triple-0 when Simpson pleaded “Don‘t call the cops, I don’t have my licence”.

At 4.09am, Simpson and the passer-by moved away from the Nissan as a northbound train, carrying a driver, training guard and 10 passengers, hurled towards the scene along a sweeping bend at more than 100km/h.

The driver engaged the train‘s full brakes and emergency brakes, but with only 90 metres notice, it was still travelling in excess of 90km/h when the collision occurred.

The Nissan was dragged 30 metres down the line before knocking over a rail signal structure and overhead power lines.

The front two carriages of the train, where the driver, the guard and three passengers were located, dislodged from the track with the first carriage toppling over.

The court heard the driver was rushed to Wollongong Hospital via ambulance with a fracture to his spine, bruised ribs, a collapsed lung and extensive bruising to his hips, legs and back.

The guard and two of the passengers were also conveyed to Wollongong Hospital.

Police attended a Dapto address on Duley St just before 2pm on Wednesday, October 27, where Simpson scampered to the rear of the property before being arrested in the backyard.

Allan Martin Simpson being arrested in Dapto. Picture: NSW Police

Simpson was found with 1.06g of methamphetamine in his possession and, when he was taken back to Lake Illawarra Police Station, said “I was going to hand myself in, I was just waiting to get my bike back from the repair shop” and ”I was there stealing copper”.

The court heard on Thursday the estimated cost of the damage caused by the incident was more than $7.9 million, with Judge Haesler describing that and the injuries of those on-board the train as the “catastrophic consequences” of Simpson‘s ”stupidity”.

The court heard Simpson had spent more than 30 years in “some form of custody” with the judge pondering ”How did it come to this?”.

The train derailment cost NSW Transport more than $7.9 million. Picture: Madeline Crittenden

“He is not charged with the extent of the injuries caused to the people on-board.

“Obviously he did not intend to get stuck and for anyone to be harmed, but the risks should have been obvious.

“He told me ‘I realise people could have died because of my stupidity’ … but Simpson’s history shows he constantly acts on the spot of the moment for his own interests with no thought of the interests of the community.”

The sentence was backdated to October, 2021, meaning Simpson could be up for release in April, 2024.

The judge also disqualified Simpson from driving for 12 months.